At the end of 2024, Rocksteady Studios, the acclaimed developer behind *Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League*, announced yet another wave of layoffs. Six workers, who wished to remain anonymous, reported the layoffs affecting developers from the programming team, artists, and testers. This latest round of cuts continues a trend that began in September, when the number of testers was reduced by half, dropping from 33 to 15.
Throughout 2024, Rocksteady faced significant challenges in sustaining *Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League* amid its low popularity. According to Warner Bros., the project incurred losses amounting to approximately $200 million. In December, the developers disclosed that no new updates would be released for the game in 2025, though the servers would continue to operate.
The layoffs extended beyond Rocksteady, impacting another Warner Bros. studio, Games Montreal, known for *Batman: Arkham Origins* and *Gotham Knights*. In December, 99 employees were let go from this studio.
The situation turned even more dire when the game was made available to early access users. Players encountered severe bugs, with the *Suicide Squad* servers crashing multiple times, preventing players from accessing the game. One early access bug inadvertently revealed a storyline spoiler, adding to the gameplay issues that drew widespread criticism.
Prominent gaming magazines were vocal about their dissatisfaction with the game, leading to a substantial number of early access refunds. According to the analytics company McLuck, the troubled launch of *Suicide Squad* triggered a staggering 791% surge in refund requests.
Looking forward, it remains uncertain what Rocksteady Studios will focus on next following these setbacks.
