Warner Bros. Cancels Wonder Woman Game, Closes Three Studios

Warner Bros. is shutting down three studios—Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB San Diego—and canceling its planned Wonder Woman game, according to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier. Schreier initially broke the news on Bluesky, followed by a detailed report on Bloomberg. WB subsequently confirmed the closures to Kotaku, stating the decision was a strategic shift to focus development on key franchises like Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC, and Game of Thrones. The statement emphasized that this wasn't a reflection on the talent within the affected studios.

The cancellation of Monolith Productions' Wonder Woman game is a significant blow, given Monolith's history of creating acclaimed titles such as Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its sequel. The company's innovative Nemesis system, patented by WB in 2021, revolutionized open-world gameplay.

This news follows earlier reports of setbacks for the Wonder Woman game, including reboots and director changes in early 2024, and broader struggles within WB Games. These struggles include layoffs at Rocksteady, the mixed reception of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and the shutdown of MultiVersus. The recent departure of long-time games head David Haddad and rumors of a potential sale of the division further underscore the turmoil.

The closures represent a setback for WB's DC universe gaming ambitions, particularly considering James Gunn and Peter Safran's recent announcement that the first DCU video game is still a couple of years away.

Player First Games, founded in 2019 and responsible for MultiVersus, achieved critical acclaim and initial success but ultimately fell short of WB's expectations. WB San Diego, also established in 2019, focused on mobile, free-to-play games. The loss of these three studios, particularly the established Monolith Productions, represents a significant loss for the games industry.

These shutdowns are part of a larger trend in the games industry. The past three years have seen a surge in layoffs, project cancellations, and studio closures. Over 10,000 game developers were laid off in 2023, rising to over 14,000 in 2024. While 2025 has also seen numerous closures, precise figures are less readily available due to reduced reporting by companies.