Suicide Squad Game Faces Latest Staff Cutbacks

Rocksteady Faces Further Layoffs Following Suicide Squad's Underperformance

Rocksteady Studios, renowned for the acclaimed Batman: Arkham series, has announced another round of layoffs, following the disappointing performance of its latest title, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The game's mixed reception and subsequent divisive post-launch content contributed to the studio's financial struggles. This latest wave of job cuts impacts programming and art teams, adding to the significant reduction in QA staff experienced in September.

The underperformance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League significantly impacted both Rocksteady and its parent company, WB Games. Warner Bros. previously acknowledged the game's failure to meet sales expectations. The initial September layoffs halved the QA department, reducing its size from 33 to 15 employees.

According to recent reports from Eurogamer, additional layoffs have affected Rocksteady's programming and art teams, alongside further reductions in QA. Several anonymous employees confirmed their recent dismissals, highlighting the ongoing impact of the game's commercial failure. Warner Bros. remains silent on these latest developments, mirroring their response to the September job cuts.

Ripple Effect Across WB Games

The consequences of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's underperformance extend beyond Rocksteady. WB Games Montreal, the studio behind Batman: Arkham Origins and Gotham Knights, also experienced layoffs in December, primarily affecting QA personnel who supported Rocksteady's post-launch DLC development.

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 commercial failure casts a shadow on Rocksteady's otherwise impressive track record of critically acclaimed DC-themed titles. The significant layoffs serve as a stark reminder of the game's negative impact on the studio.