Suicide Squad: Studio Cuts Workforce Amidst Game Development

Rocksteady Suffers 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 underperforming sales have significantly impacted the studio.

The initial blow came in September, with a reported 50% reduction in the QA team. This latest round of job cuts, however, extends to Rocksteady's programming and art departments, occurring just before the release of the game's final update. Eurogamer reports that several affected employees, choosing to remain anonymous, confirmed their recent dismissals. Warner Bros. has yet to publicly address these layoffs, mirroring their silence on the September cuts.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's financial underperformance, reported by Warner Bros. in February, significantly impacted both Rocksteady and its parent company, WB Games. The game's costly development and subsequent poor sales directly contributed to the staff reductions.

This isn't isolated to Rocksteady. WB Games Montreal, the studio behind Gotham Knights, also experienced layoffs in December, reportedly affecting quality assurance staff who supported Suicide Squad's post-launch content. The final DLC, released December 10th, introduced Deathstroke as a playable character. Following the release of a final update later this month, Rocksteady's future remains uncertain.

The underperformance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League casts a shadow on Rocksteady's impressive track record. The extensive layoffs serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by even established studios in the competitive video game market.