MultiVersus Officially Shuts Down After Troubled Run

The highly anticipated free-to-play platform fighter, MultiVersus, has officially ceased online operations as of today, May 30, 2025, marking the definitive end of its "troubled run." The game, which initially saw significant success during its open beta period, ultimately couldn't overcome a series of critical challenges that led to its permanent closure.

MultiVersus, developed by Player First Games and published by Warner Bros. Games, burst onto the scene with its open beta in July 2022. Featuring an exciting and diverse roster of iconic Warner Bros. characters, from Batman and Bugs Bunny to Arya Stark and LeBron James, it quickly became a sensation. The game's accessible gameplay, unique 2v2 focus, and the novelty of its crossover appeal initially captivated millions, even earning it "Best Fighting Game" at The Game Awards that year. At its peak, the game boasted over 150,000 concurrent players on Steam alone.

However, this impressive initial momentum proved fleeting. MultiVersus experienced a rapid and dramatic decline in player numbers within months, with its daily peak player count on Steam dropping by over 99% by February 2023. This downturn was attributed to a combination of factors that plagued its live-service model:

• Content Droughts: After an initial burst of content, players reported extended periods without new character additions, maps, or significant gameplay updates, leading to a stale and repetitive experience.

  
  

• Balance Problems: Persistent issues with character balance and hitboxes frustrated the competitive community, leading to a sense of unfairness and a shifting, often unstable, meta.

  
  

• Aggressive Monetization: Despite being free-to-play, the game's monetization scheme, particularly the cost of in-game items, expensive skins, and a perceived grindy progression system, alienated many players who felt pressured towards spending real money. Concerns grew over the value offered, especially for those who purchased the premium Founder's Packs, with some feeling unable to fully utilize their invested currency before the shutdown.

In an attempt to rectify its course, MultiVersus was temporarily pulled offline in June 2023, with Player First Games categorizing the initial period as an "extended beta." This move itself was controversial, leaving players who had invested money unable to access their purchased content for nearly a year.

The game officially re-launched in May 2024, migrating to Unreal Engine 5 and introducing significant changes, including a PvE "Rifts" mode, new characters like Aquaman and Lola Bunny, and combat refinements. While it saw a brief surge in player numbers upon re-release, reaching over 114,000 concurrent players on Steam, the momentum quickly dwindled again. Many veteran players found the relaunched gameplay slower and less responsive than the beta, and the revamped monetization was often criticized as being even more aggressive.

The inability to sustain a healthy player base and meet financial expectations ultimately sealed MultiVersus' fate. Warner Bros. had reportedly admitted the game underperformed, contributing to a significant financial writedown for its games business. In January, it was officially announced that Season 5 would be the final content update, culminating in today's permanent shutdown.

The game has now been delisted from all digital storefronts (Steam, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Epic Games Store), making it impossible for new users to download. For existing players, access to an offline mode is contingent on having logged into the game between February 4th and May 30th, which would have created a local save file. However, some players are reporting issues with accessing all their unlocked cosmetics even in offline mode.

The closure of MultiVersus, alongside recent studio closures (including Player First Games itself) and game cancellations by Warner Bros., underscores the inherent risks and intense competition within the live-service gaming market. It serves as a stark reminder of the challenges even major IPs face in maintaining long-term player engagement and profitability in the ever-evolving free-to-play landscape.