WB Games Montréal Trims Staff Amidst 'Suicide Squad' Production

WB Games Montréal Trims Staff Amidst

Rocksteady Faces Further Layoffs Following Suicide Squad's Underperformance

Rocksteady Studios, renowned for the acclaimed Batman: Arkham series, has experienced another wave of layoffs, following the disappointing performance of its latest title, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The game's mixed reception and subsequent divisive post-launch content led to financial difficulties for the studio and its parent company, WB Games.

The studio's struggles began earlier in 2024, when Warner Bros. revealed that Suicide Squad fell short of sales projections. This initially resulted in significant cuts to the QA department in September, reducing its staff by approximately half.

However, the recent layoffs, reported by Eurogamer, are far more extensive, impacting programming and art teams in addition to further QA staff reductions. Several anonymous employees confirmed their dismissals, highlighting the severity of the situation. Warner Bros. has yet to publicly address these latest job cuts, mirroring their silence following the September layoffs.

Ripple Effect Across WB Games

The impact of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's underperformance extends beyond Rocksteady. WB Games Montreal, developer of Batman: Arkham Origins and Gotham Knights, also experienced layoffs in December, primarily affecting QA staff who supported Suicide Squad's post-launch content.

The final DLC, released December 10th, introduced Deathstroke as a playable character. While Rocksteady plans one last update for Suicide Squad later this month, the studio's future remains uncertain. The game's commercial failure casts a shadow over Rocksteady's impressive track record, leaving a significant mark on the studio's legacy.