Warner Bros. has made the difficult decision to cancel its anticipated Wonder Woman game and close three of its development studios: Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB San Diego. This news was first reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier on Bluesky, with a detailed follow-up article on Bloomberg. Warner Bros. later confirmed the closures to Kotaku, releasing a statement that explained the move as a strategic shift to focus on key franchises such as Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC, and Game of Thrones.

The statement from Warner Bros. emphasized that the closure of the studios and the cancellation of the Wonder Woman game were part of a broader effort to realign their development efforts and resources. They expressed regret over the decision, acknowledging the talent and dedication of the teams at the affected studios. The Wonder Woman project, which Monolith Productions had been working on, was particularly highlighted as a project they had hoped to deliver as a high-quality experience but ultimately could not align with their strategic goals.

This decision comes after a challenging period for Warner Bros.' gaming division. Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that the Wonder Woman game had faced significant hurdles, including a reboot and a change in directors in early 2024. These issues were part of broader struggles within the division, which also saw layoffs at Rocksteady Studios, a tepid response to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and the closure of MultiVersus.

Adding to the turbulence, Warner Bros. Games has been undergoing a restructuring, marked by the departure of long-time games head David Haddad and rumors of the division potentially being sold off. The closure of these studios is a significant setback for Warner Bros.' efforts to build a connected DC universe in gaming, especially following a recent statement from DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran that the first DCU video game is still a couple of years away.

The affected studios have rich histories in the gaming industry. Monolith Productions, founded in 1994 and acquired by Warner Bros. in 2004, is renowned for its Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor series, which introduced the innovative Nemesis system. Player First Games, established in 2019, developed MultiVersus, which, despite critical acclaim and initial success, did not meet Warner Bros.' expectations. WB San Diego, also established in 2019, focused on mobile and free-to-play games.

These closures reflect a continuing trend of layoffs, project cancellations, and studio shutdowns in the games industry. In 2023, over 10,000 game developers were laid off, a number that rose to over 14,000 in 2024. While specific numbers for 2025 are less clear due to reduced reporting, the impact of these closures is undeniable, marking a challenging period for the industry.