Suicide Squad: Justice League Game Hit with Further Job Cuts

Rocksteady Suffers Further Layoffs Following Suicide Squad's Underperformance

Rocksteady Studios, renowned for the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham series, has announced another round of layoffs, adding to the setbacks following the disappointing performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The game's mixed reception and underperforming sales have significantly impacted the studio.

The initial wave of layoffs in September targeted the QA department, resulting in a 50% reduction in staff. This latest round of job cuts extends to Rocksteady's programming and art teams, occurring shortly before the release of the game's final update. Multiple affected employees, speaking anonymously to Eurogamer, confirmed the recent terminations. Warner Bros. has yet to publicly address these layoffs.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's financial underperformance, reported by Warner Bros. in February, directly contributed to these staffing reductions. The game, a costly venture for both Rocksteady and WB Games, failed to meet sales expectations.

The ripple effect extends beyond Rocksteady. WB Games Montreal, the studio behind Gotham Knights and Batman: Arkham Origins, also experienced layoffs in December, primarily affecting QA staff who supported Suicide Squad's post-launch DLC. 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 struggles cast a shadow on Rocksteady's otherwise impressive track record of successful DC video game titles.