Rocksteady Studios Hit With Layoffs Following Suicide Squad Underperformance

Rocksteady Studios Hit With Layoffs Following Suicide Squad Underperformance

As a long-time fan who has grown up with Rocksteady Studios and their iconic Batman: Arkham series, it’s disheartening to see such a talented team facing layoffs due to the underperformance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The studio has been a beacon in the gaming industry for years, consistently delivering high-quality games that have captivated audiences worldwide.


As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I find myself deeply saddened by the recent news that Rocksteady Studios has had to let go of some team members due to layoffs. Over the past two years, it seems like a trend has been emerging in the AAA development world, with industry giants such as Bungie, Electronic Arts, Activision, Riot Games, and Epic Games following suit. Tragically, other studios like Arkane Austin, Ready at Dawn, and Volition have even had to close their doors entirely. Now, Rocksteady has become the latest studio to face these challenges, likely due to the underperformance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

According to Eurogamer’s report, Rocksteady Studios has started letting employees go, with their Quality Assurance (QA) team being affected most significantly. The QA team, which once had around 33 members, has now been reduced to 15. Although it may not appear substantial, the positions that have been eliminated are reportedly quite specialized, meaning other staff members will need to take on additional responsibilities to cover the vacant roles. It’s also known that layoffs are happening elsewhere within Rocksteady, but the exact scope of these redundancies remains uncertain.

It turns out that the job cuts are linked to the disappointing performance of “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League,” a game developed by Rocksteady, which came out as their main project since 2015’s “Batman: Arkham Knight.” The game received unfavorable reviews from both critics and fans, becoming one of the worst-rated games in 2024. Moreover, WB Games deemed it a commercial flop. Despite launching at a $70 price tag, the game was quickly discounted significantly, and even offered for free this summer as an attempt to attract more players.

As things progress, it remains undecided what Rocksteady Studios might undertake next. The support for “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League” continues and is predicted to persist until at least 2024. Many fans are hoping for the studio to revisit its Batman: Arkham series, as that’s what initially catapulted them into fame. In the immediate future, the Arkham franchise will carry on with “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” scheduled for release on Meta Quest 3 in October.

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2024-09-02 18:41