WB Cancels ‘Wonder Woman’ Videogame Along With 3 Gaming Studios

As a devoted admirer, I’m sharing the news that the long-awaited video game adaptation of Wonder Woman, which was in development for quite some time, has unfortunately been abandoned altogether. The heartbreaking reason behind this is that Monolith, the company responsible for its creation, was shut down by Warner Bros Discovery, its parent company.

Warner Bros Discovery has confirmed plans to shut three of its gaming development studios.

The outcome implies that the highly-anticipated video game, previously being developed by Monolith for three years, known as “Wonder Woman”, unfortunately won’t see a release.

Player First Games, the studio behind MultiVersus, along with Warner Bros. Games San Diego, will also be closed down.

The news emerges following a challenging period within the sector, marked by numerous layoffs that have occurred since an economic surge brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A representative from Warner Bros explained to BBC Newsbeat that the challenging choice was made with the goal of increasing their earnings.

Regarding Wonder Woman, they shared: “We aimed to deliver an exceptional experience for gamers and enthusiasts that truly represents the legendary character. Unfortunately, due to changes in our strategic focus, we can no longer achieve this goal.

For a while, MultiVersus announced that the game wouldn’t receive any further updates, meaning it could only be played in offline mode.

Warner Bros has announced that it will prioritize expanding its main series such as Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC Universe, and Game of Thrones.

So, what did they focus on as their main goals or key areas of attention? Unfortunately, it seems that WB’s actions have raised concerns about their ethical standards. Harry Potter is a respectable choice, but their preference for creating games based on the most appalling creatures only further tarnishes the reputation of the gaming industry. As BBC points out:

The anticipated video game “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League,” published by Warner Bros Games, received harsh criticism from both fans and professional reviewers.

Updates for the game ended in January after weak sales and poor reviews.

As a devoted fan, I must confess, the title alone sets certain expectations. Yet, it’s heartening to know that the video gaming community houses sensible individuals who shun games where villains prey on heroes, regardless of whether they follow the narrative of John Ostrander’s 1987-92 series, where criminals served government duty. The Suicide Squad game’s downfall can hardly be pinned solely on the Covid pandemic; the wave of wokeness in recent video game development has been a significant factor, and it remains to be seen if corporations will let this trend fade away. Additionally, there are whispers that the Wonder Woman game may have fallen victim to wokeness, but since it was scrapped, we might never uncover the specifics.

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “If it’s true that my character, Wonder Woman, embodies our story, then what I truly believe is that the gaming world was yearning for the narrative we’re unfolding.

“We were ready to turn our game into a propaganda tool to resist and own the chuds.”

In which case, we are lucky the game is cancelled.

— Grummz (@Grummz) February 26, 2025

The Verge also notes:

It seems that Warner Bros.’ foray into video gaming has hit another turbulent phase. Just announced, MultiVersus is set to go offline, marking an end to a development process marred by extended breaks and a relaunch. Additionally, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League didn’t fare well, with its last season released barely a year after its launch. According to a previous report from Bloomberg, Warner Bros.’ gaming division incurred approximately $300 million in losses last year.

It’s worth mentioning that a notable author with strong leftist views was brought on board as a consultant at Monolith, based on information from IGN.

The acclaimed comic author, Gail Simone, disclosed that she previously contributed to the troubled Wonder Woman video game project by Warner Bros., which was recently cancelled.

Simone, who is renowned for her extensive tenure as a female writer for Wonder Woman comics, lauded the “dream team” behind the video game, emphasizing that everyone she collaborated with from Monolith (now closed) and Warner Bros. was not only eager but also encouraging.

In her social media post, Simone expressed excitement about being asked to work long-term on a game she loves, specifically mentioning it’s about Wonder Woman, video games, and the studio Monolith, known for creating the critically acclaimed Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor series, which she was addicted to.

The game was stunningly vast and visually appealing. It was a sight to behold. While I won’t delve into specifics for various reasons, let me assure you that every effort was poured into making this more than just an outstanding game; it was designed to be an exceptional Wonder Woman game, a masterpiece of epic proportions.

Everything turned out wonderfully due to the incredible effort of our team. Each member, from programmers to artists and designers, gave their all. I can’t recall another team that was as dedicated to ensuring the final outcome was flawless.

In Simone’s words, “It was a fulfillment of a long-held aspiration. The Dream Team behind Wonder Woman truly gave their best,” she said.

The team ensured that the game incorporated elements from WW and DC lore throughout its entirety. It was a pleasure and privilege to collaborate with them. Despite any criticism or blame being thrown around, everyone I interacted with from Monolith and WB was eager and encouraging. They all shared a common goal: to create an exceptional game.

Working with someone who proved to be so cynical and progressive, I’m doubtful about any positive outcomes. It seems her actions haven’t significantly advanced women’s rights over time, and certainly not as much as one would hope.

Initially, I was tasked with providing extensive consulting for a game project, which filled me with excitement because it combined three of my passions: Wonder Woman, video games, and Monolith Studios, known for creating the critically acclaimed MORDOR series, a game franchise I found incredibly captivating.

— Gail Simone 💙💛 (@GailSimone) February 26, 2025

Discussing World War (WW), Polygon shares insights into why the creators of Absolute WW portrayed Wonder Woman (WW) as having witch-like qualities.

In the same way Batman entered DC Comics’ premium series Absolute with a fresh start and steeper challenges for DC’s iconic superheroes, Wonder Woman adopted a new appearance. Riding a skeletal red-eyed pegasus, she now sports tattoos on her arms, wields a buster sword, dons a black and red color scheme, and – perhaps most debateably – wears pants.

It’s puzzling why some PC advocates seem to take issue with women’s legs; it’s starting to become quite preposterous. One might even suggest they’d use Donna Troy’s costume, which was designed to be distinctive from Wonder Woman, as an argument for change. Furthermore, notice how any reference to American flag colors has been toned down, hinting at a broader issue.

Thompson explained to Polygon during their video call that “her powers still possess a strong superhero vibe, but they’ve changed due to her background as a witch.” He continued, “Growing up as a witch is what she’s familiar with, even though she won’t be as powerful as Circe in terms of sorcery. Yet, when she performs these immense feats, she downplays it by saying she’s not much of a witch, which is quite ironic considering the significant magic she’s actually wielding.

The phrasing seems to carry a derogatory implication associated with the term “witch,” which is problematic. To put it frankly, it’s quite awkward, even considering the subpar art samples provided, and the situation becomes more troubling due to these factors.

In the first four issues of Absolute Wonder Woman, some remarkable actions stand out:

1. She casts a spell that silences an entire city, but not before reassuring them it’s for their survival.
2. She sacrifices her right arm to power a mystical ritual, allowing Steve Trevor to break free from the clutches of hell. This selfless act sets the stage for his role as a catalyst in her heroic adventure.
3. In the most recent issue (Absolute Wonder Woman #5), Diana resorts to an unusual weapon compared to her usual Lasso of Truth: Circe’s Lasso of Transformation.

This way, we maintain the essence of the original text while making it more accessible and natural to read.

This comic, once again, presents a contemporary atrocity steeped in violence. The fact that Absolute Wonder Woman performs the rite to allow this version of Steve to break free from hell doesn’t justify it. As for writer Kelly Thompson’s thoughts on the golden lasso, I don’t have that specific information.

Thompson explained that she wanted to reveal the complete genesis of the Lasso of Transformation in this instance, as it significantly deviates from the traditional Wonder Woman narrative.

Thompson remarked, “This lasso isn’t very Diana-like.” He continued, “It doesn’t reflect her true identity in many aspects… Even though Diana was brought up in a challenging environment, there’s more shadow within Circe than there ever has been in Diana. This creates a rift between them, yet it also offers room for growth and learning… Diana acknowledges that she is a potent character with vast wisdom, but she is also keenly aware of her own ignorance and the need to learn more. This makes for a compelling character instead of one that remains static.

If Thompson’s viewpoint is accurate, it further highlights the flaws in their methodology. Clearly, they see the lasso as symbolizing light rather than darkness, which unfortunately serves as another justification for pushing this questionable path upon others.

It seems the closure of WB’s video game studios might be a positive move, given that the company has been making poor decisions for quite some time, including their comic books. I wouldn’t recommend investing in their video games, especially not Mortal Kombat.

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2025-03-05 18:01