David Haddad, who has been at the helm of Warner Bros. Games for over a decade, is stepping down amidst the challenging debut of their recent game, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. This title, launched in 2024, struggled to attract a loyal fanbase and faced criticism for both its gameplay mechanics and its approach to live services.
The past year has been tough for WB Games, with a string of releases that failed to hit the mark. The underperformance isn’t limited to Suicide Squad; another game, MultiVersus, a free-to-play fighter, also faced backlash. Players were particularly unhappy with the game’s monetization strategies and the absence of offline play options. Although Hogwarts Legacy achieved tremendous success in 2023, its counterpart Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, released in 2024, left fans unimpressed, mainly due to its bland graphics and repetitive nature.
Variety reports that David Haddad will be leaving Warner Bros. Games after 12 years of service. Reflecting on his tenure, Haddad stated, “I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together at Warner Bros. Games. It’s been a true joy working on our iconic gaming franchises.” He plans to stay on for the next few months to assist in a smooth transition to a new leader. On a recent call, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO, David Zaslav, mentioned that WB Games hasn’t been living up to expectations, highlighting a need to refocus, especially on upcoming hits like the Hogwarts Legacy sequel and new DC titles.
The end is in sight for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League as it’s set to receive its final content update in January 2025, reflecting a conclusion to the game’s live service facet. Fans were caught off guard by the rocky launch from Rocksteady, a studio renowned for the much-loved Batman: Arkham series. The game’s lackluster performance led to September layoffs at Rocksteady and, reportedly, Warner Bros. incurred a $200 million loss. By May 2024, the company experienced a 41% drop in year-over-year revenue, attributed mainly to the game’s shortcomings.
Looking forward, Warner Bros. Games aims to turn the tide with the anticipated Hogwarts Legacy sequel, which could boost both player confidence and finances. Another bright spot on the horizon is the eagerly awaited Wonder Woman game, although fans will need to be patient as its development is still in early stages, with a release not expected until at least 2026. The title was announced before development kicked off, explaining the lack of updates.
