Warner Bros. Shuts Down Monolith & Cancels Wonder Woman Game
Published On: February 27, 2025
Warner Bros. Games is closing three studios, including Monolith Productions, and has canceled the Wonder Woman game. As part of a major restructuring, Warner Bros. says it’s shifting focus to its biggest franchises: Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC, and Game of Thrones.
Studios shut down as part of restructuring
Monolith Productions, known for the Middle-earth series, is closing along with Player First Games, the studio behind MultiVersus, which is shutting down in May. Warner Bros. Games stated that this decision is part of a strategic shift, not a reflection of the talent at these studios. However, many see it as another case of corporate restructuring at the cost of long-standing developers. Monolith, in particular, had a history of creating well-received single-player games like F.E.A.R., Condemned, and Shadow of Mordor, making its closure a significant loss.
Monolith’s Wonder Woman game, announced in 2021, has also been canceled. The game was expected to use the studio’s patented Nemesis System, a gameplay mechanic introduced in Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. Reports suggest the project had already cost Warner Bros. over $100 million and was nowhere close to completion.
Warner Bros. Games has stated that its goal is to make its gaming division profitable again by 2025. The company is focusing on franchises with proven success while shifting more resources toward live-service models and mobile gaming.
The closure of Monolith also raises doubts about the future of the Nemesis System, which Warner Bros. patented, preventing other developers from using similar mechanics. With the studio that created it now gone, the system may never be used again.
While Warner Bros. moves forward with Hogwarts Legacy 2 and a potential Game of Thrones title, many see Monolith's closure as a loss for the gaming industry. The shift toward franchise-driven content continues, leaving fewer opportunities for studios that built their reputations on unique and innovative games.