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 programming and art departments, occurring just before the release of the game's final update. Several affected employees, speaking anonymously to Eurogamer, confirmed the recent dismissals. Warner Bros. has yet to publicly address these layoffs, mirroring their silence following the September cuts.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League proved costly for both Rocksteady and its parent company, WB Games, with February reports confirming the game fell short of sales projections. The financial fallout has clearly had a lasting effect on the studio's workforce.
Ripple Effect Across WB Games
The impact of Suicide Squad's underperformance isn't limited to Rocksteady. WB Games Montreal, the studio behind Batman: Arkham Origins and Gotham Knights, also announced 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. With one last update planned for later this month, the future of Rocksteady remains uncertain. The game's failure casts a shadow on the studio's impressive track record, highlighting the risks inherent in the live-service model.
