Rocksteady Studios, the acclaimed developer behind Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, is reportedly undergoing significant layoffs following the game’s underwhelming commercial performance. Despite being one of the most anticipated releases of the year, Suicide Squad has struggled to gain traction with both players and critics, leading to a major restructuring within the studio.

A Troubled Launch for Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League marked a bold new direction for Rocksteady, known for its highly successful Batman: Arkham series. This time, the studio shifted focus to some of DC’s most infamous villains, such as Harley Quinn and King Shark. However, the game’s ambitious live-service model, coupled with a lackluster narrative and technical issues, led to widespread criticism. The fallout from these challenges is now manifesting in significant layoffs at the studio.

According to a report from Eurogamer, Rocksteady’s quality assurance (QA) team has been particularly hard hit, with its numbers reduced by more than half—from 33 to just 15 members. The studio’s recent struggles with Suicide Squad have been directly cited as a key factor in this “restructuring” effort. Senior management at Rocksteady has expressed concerns that the reduction in staff could further impact the quality of the game’s ongoing and future updates.

Fallout From Poor Sales

The layoffs are not limited to junior staff; several long-standing employees have also been affected. Warner Bros., Rocksteady’s parent company, reported a 41% decline in revenue from its gaming division in August, largely attributed to the poor performance of Suicide Squad. Previous estimates have suggested that the game may have resulted in losses nearing $200 million.

Despite these setbacks, Rocksteady had plans for extensive content updates for Suicide Squad in the coming months. However, the recent layoffs have cast doubt on whether all these updates will be realized. The game’s mid-season 2 update, released on August 27, introduced new gadgets and other features, but it remains uncertain how the studio’s reduced resources will affect future content.

Final Thoughts

The layoffs at Rocksteady highlight the challenging state of the gaming industry, where even established studios are not immune to the repercussions of a poorly received title. While Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League had the potential to be a standout entry in Rocksteady’s portfolio, its failure to meet expectations has led to significant consequences for the studio. As fans await further updates, the future of Suicide Squad remains uncertain, with many wondering how Rocksteady will navigate these turbulent times.

Also Read: