MultiVersus Shutdown Plan Sparks Player Compensation Debate

Warner Bros. announces May closure for fighting game as players demand refunds for unused content.

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MultiVersus Shutdown Plan Sparks Player Compensation Debate

Warner Bros. has announced the imminent closure of its platform fighter MultiVersus, scheduled for May 30, 2025, triggering widespread debate over player compensation. The shutdown comes less than a year after the game’s full launch, with monetary purchases already suspended across all platforms.

The closure announcement, made on January 31, revealed that the game’s fifth competitive season will conclude at 12 PM EST on the shutdown date. While Warner Bros. confirmed that an offline mode will remain available to players, the game will be removed from all digital storefronts once servers go offline.

Founder’s Pack Controversy

The shutdown has particularly affected players who purchased the game’s Founder’s Pack, leading to calls for partial refunds. According to Eurogamer, players are unable to utilize all their purchased character tokens before the shutdown date. The Founder’s Pack included 30 character tokens, while the game currently features 35 playable characters, with only eleven made available for free.

Financial Impact and Future Access

The decision follows significant financial challenges for Warner Bros. Games, which reported a combined deficit of nearly $200 million in November, with MultiVersus contributing approximately $100 million to these losses. Despite these setbacks, the game had achieved notable recognition, receiving a nomination for Best Fighting Game at the 2024 Game Awards.

Players will retain access to offline features after the shutdown, though the specific extent of available content remains unclear. The announcement marks a significant shift for the platform fighter, which had initially generated substantial player engagement during its early access phase in 2022.