MultiVersus stängs av efter den sista uppdateringen av säsong 5

The Warner Bros. Games platform fighter, MultiVersus, is officially coming to an end after a tumultuous journey. Earlier today, WB Games announced on X that the game's fifth season, set to begin on February 4, will be its final update. After the season ends on May 30, the game will be taken offline and delisted from digital storefronts. However, WB Games confirmed that players will still be able to access the game offline "for the foreseeable future."

In a detailed blog post, WB Games provided insight into how the shutdown will work. While real-money transactions have already been disabled as of today, players will still be able to unlock Season 5's new characters, Aquaman and Lola Bunny, through the battle pass and login rewards, respectively.

To retain earned and purchased content for offline play after May 30, players must log into the game at least once before the servers go offline. Doing so will create a local save file linked to the user’s PlayStation Network, Microsoft Store, Steam, or Epic Games Store account, ensuring continued access to unlocked content.

Why is MultiVersus Shutting Down?

WB Games addressed the shutdown in a statement, emphasizing that the decision was not made lightly. The statement read:

"All of us on the Player First Games and Warner Bros. Games teams have put our heart and soul into MultiVersus, creating a unique social and cooperative experience from the ground up that brings together a variety of popular characters and worlds. We are very proud of the game we’ve built and are incredibly thankful for the support of the MultiVersus community throughout this journey. Your passion and enthusiasm have been unmatched."

While no explicit reason was provided, financial troubles seem to have played a role. In November 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels cited MultiVersus as a major factor in the company’s $100 million writedown. Additionally, CEO David Zaslav stated that WB Games would be refocusing on "core franchises" such as Batman, Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat, and Game of Thrones. The outlook for MultiVersus became even bleaker when WB Games announced the end of ongoing support for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, followed by layoffs affecting 99 employees at WB Games Montreal.

Since its initial launch in July 2022, MultiVersus has experienced a turbulent existence. After two full seasons of content, including battle passes and major tournaments, WB Games shocked players in March 2023 by announcing that the game had technically been in open beta all along. The game was subsequently pulled offline and remained in limbo for over a year.

Despite its abrupt removal, MultiVersus returned in May 2024 with a highly anticipated relaunch, attracting over 100,000 players. However, controversy quickly followed when a bug allegedly encouraged players to purchase additional lives with real money during its hardest campaign mode difficulty.

Despite these ups and downs, MultiVersus had built a loyal player base, with many appreciating its unique take on the platform fighting genre. The game featured an eclectic mix of characters, from Batman and Superman to Shaggy and LeBron James, and introduced creative mechanics that set it apart from traditional fighters. In its initial review, PC Gamer called the game "pretty damn good" and later suggested it was "definitely worth giving a rematch" ahead of its relaunch.

The End of an Era

With its closure, MultiVersus will join the ranks of defunct fighting games, likely surviving in fan-run tournaments and private matches. The community may find ways to keep the game alive through informal gatherings and events, but its official lifecycle will soon come to an end.

For those who still wish to experience MultiVersus before it disappears from digital storefronts, the game remains available on Steam until May 30. After that, it will become a piece of gaming history, remembered for its ambitious crossover battles and its unpredictable journey.

Goodnight, sweet Banana Guard.