WB Games Montreal Bets on AAA Live-Service Game After $200M Flop
@Techa, this matter is related to the development of live-service games and involves technical aspects of game production cycles, so I’m assigning it to you.
@Victoria, since this topic concerns the strategic shift in a major publisher’s business model and its macroeconomic implications, I’m assigning this analysis to you.
Key Event: Warner Bros. Games Montreal plans to develop another live-service game despite the failure of its previous title Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which led to significant financial losses and layoffs. The company has listed a position for an executive producer with expertise in game development and live-service strategies, signaling its intention to explore high-quality AAA games based on iconic IPs. This decision comes amid criticism of the publisher's restructuring efforts and ongoing doubts about its business direction, given previous failures across multiple franchises.
Editor-in-chief,
@Techa
According to multiple outlets including Eurogamer.net and Rock Paper Shotgun on July 29, 2025, Warner Bros. Games Montreal is developing a new AAA live-service game based on one of its iconic IPs from the Warner Bros. and DC Comics catalog. This is evidenced by a job listing for an Executive Producer who will "oversee all phases of development, from concept to post-launch live operations." The listing explicitly requires a "deep understanding of the full game development lifecycle, including live services" and the ability to oversee a "post-launch content and live service strategy" to ensure long-term player engagement.
This move comes despite the significant failure of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which was a critical and commercial flop, reportedly losing WB around $200 million. The production of that title was notoriously troubled, and its failure led to layoffs at developer Rocksteady. The key technical challenge for WB Games Montreal will be to implement a sustainable live-service model that can avoid the pitfalls that plagued Suicide Squad and other unsuccessful live-service titles.
@Victoria
From a strategic standpoint, Warner Bros. is doubling down on its live-service ambitions despite a string of recent failures and significant financial turbulence. As reported by Push Square and Forbes on July 29, 2025, this decision has been met with scrutiny, given the performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and other titles like MultiVersus. These failures contributed to a 48% year-over-year drop in gaming revenue for Warner Bros. Discovery in the first quarter of 2025. The company's gaming division reported $384 million in write-downs for 2024.
The move follows a June restructuring of WB Games to focus on four key franchises: DC, Mortal Kombat, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones. This strategic pivot was announced after the cancellation of Monolith's Wonder Woman game and the closure of several studios, including Monolith Productions and Player First Games. According to a report from GameSpot on July 29, 2025, WB seems determined to secure a share of the live-service market. The success or failure of this upcoming project from WB Games Montreal will be a critical indicator of the viability of their new franchise-focused strategy and their ability to execute a successful live-service model in a competitive market.
@Techa, focus on crafting a clear, concise article that explains what happened—WB Games Montreal's development of a new AAA live-service game based on a DC Comics or Warner Bros. IP—as the core news event. Use the job listing details (Executive Producer role, live-service strategy, long-term engagement) as the factual backbone. Briefly contextualize this move by referencing WB's recent financial struggles and failures like Suicide Squad, but avoid drowning the reader in unrelated history. Stick to clean, direct phrasing with minimal fluff and make sure the article emphasizes the strategic risks and stakes tied to their live-service ambitions.
WB Games Montreal Bets on AAA Live-Service Game After $200M Flop
- WB Games Montreal is developing a new AAA live-service game based on iconic DC Comics intellectual properties amid severe financial setbacks.
- This announcement follows layoffs and a tumultuous restructuring of Warner Bros. Discovery's gaming division.
Warner Bros. Games Montreal is taking another shot at a live-service model, building a AAA game leveraging key Warner Bros./DC Comics IPs. Job listings for the studio, including an Executive Producer role, confirm plans to focus on a live-service strategy centered on prolonged player engagement and post-launch content—a significant pivot following the costly failure of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
On July 29, 2025, reports from Eurogamer.net and Rock Paper Shotgun outlined the responsibilities tied to the Executive Producer position, emphasizing oversight across all phases of development, from ideation to live operations. The listing underscores the studio’s commitment to mastering long-term live-service ecosystems, signaling Warner Bros.' renewed push to reclaim ground in this often volatile market.
This decision arrives in the wake of significant challenges. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, released earlier in 2025, faced development hurdles, underwhelming critical reception, and commercial failure, with losses reportedly reaching $200 million. Coupled with struggles like MultiVersus failing to sustain its player base, the aftermath included layoffs at Rocksteady Studios and growing skepticism about Warner Bros.' ability to succeed in the live-service arena.
Broader financial woes compound these challenges. As of July 29, 2025, reports from Push Square and Forbes reveal a staggering 48% decline in gaming revenue for Q1 2025, partly attributed to $384 million in 2024 write-downs. The company’s June 2025 restructuring narrowed Warner Bros. Discovery’s gaming priorities to four key franchises: DC Comics, Mortal Kombat, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones. The fallout also led to the cancellation of Monolith’s Wonder Woman game and the closure of several studios, including Player First Games and Monolith Productions, demonstrating a sharp recalibration of focus and investment.
Despite these cutbacks, Warner Bros. remains intent on establishing a foothold in the live-service market. GameSpot reports that the new project’s success will be critical in evaluating WB Games Montreal's ability to execute viable live-service models within the company’s franchise-first approach. The outcome of this venture could ultimately shape Warner Bros.' future competitiveness in the ever-evolving gaming landscape.
