WB Games Montreal Faces 99-Developer Layoffs: A Significant Shift in the Gaming Landscape
Image courtesy of Rocksteady/WB/DC.
According to the French publication Radio-Canada, employees at WB Games Montreal have been terminated.
The publication reports that ninety-nine individuals were affected, with subcontractors from Key words, a gaming service company that has worked with BioWare and NetEase bearing the brunt. These individuals managed quality assurance for WB Montreal, which assisted Rocksteady in developing Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Earlier this week, Rocksteady announced that they will cease supporting the live-service shooter on January 14, 2025. Developers indicated to Radio-Canada that those laid off may need to leave WB Montreal within eight weeks, likely around the start of February.
Future Plans for WB Montreal
In conversation with the outlet, one source mentioned that those terminated were given the opportunity to join a contact list for forthcoming Montreal projects. However, this source stated that any openings might not be available until 2026.
Others mentioned they had previously been assured that Montreal had “plenty of projects to work on.” Prior to Squad, the studio produced 2022’s Gotham Knights, another live-service title featuring Batman characters like Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl. They are also known for 2013’s Batman: Arkham Origins.
As of February 2023, WB Games Montreal is reportedly working on an undisclosed single-player DC Comics title as its primary (or leading) developer.
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Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
A native of Kansas City, MO, Justin Carter has contributed to many websites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his work can also be found on io9 at Gizmodo. Do not ask him about how much gum he’s consumed, as the answer may be more than he is willing to confess.