David Haddad, the long-time president of Warner Bros. Games, is departing from the company, following a rocky launch for the game, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Released in 2024, this title struggled to capture a loyal audience, facing sharp critiques over its gameplay and live service components.
Warner Bros. Games has been facing a tough year, grappling with a series of game releases that have not resonated well with core fans. Alongside the issues faced by Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, another title, MultiVersus, also didn’t hit the mark, with criticism aimed at its monetary strategies and lack of no-internet playability. While Hogwarts Legacy saw a spectacular run in late 2023, its follow-up, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, released in September 2024, didn’t match fan expectations, disappointing many due to its subpar graphics and repetitive gameplay.
According to an article from Variety, David Haddad is stepping down after a 12-year tenure leading WB Games. Reflecting on his time with the company, Haddad stated, "I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together at Warner Bros. Games. It’s been a privilege to work on and shape our iconic gaming franchises, and I remain a fervent supporter of this gifted team’s future projects." He will stay for another three months as they search for his successor. During a financial briefing, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav mentioned WB Games’ "substantial underperformance," highlighting a future focus on a sequel to Hogwarts Legacy and its other DC franchises.
The announcement in December 2024 that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League would receive its final content update in January 2025 effectively marked the end of its live service phase. This disappointing launch took many by surprise, considering it hailed from Rocksteady, the same studio behind the highly lauded Batman: Arkham series. This negative reception not only resulted in layoffs at Rocksteady by September 2024 but also caused Warner Bros. to report a significant $200 million loss due to underperforming sales, impacting their financial results severely—a reported 41% decrease in year-over-year revenue.
Looking forward, the fate of WB Games hangs in a delicate balance. However, the anticipated sequel to Hogwarts Legacy could potentially revitalize the company, boosting player trust and income. Meanwhile, excitement builds for the upcoming Wonder Woman game. Yet, one of its developers indicated a release no sooner than 2026, attributing the delay to the fact the game was announced before any real development had started, leaving fans eagerly waiting for further news.
