Only Warner Bros. Could Fumble a Wonder Woman Game

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Back in 2021, when it was announced that there would be a Wonder Woman game, I thought it was a shrewd decision – an easy way to rake in the cash. The fact that Monolith was handling its development made me even more optimistic, given their impressive track record with the Middle Earth games. In essence, Warner Bros. made a smart move because fans were eager for more of this iconic DC character, and pairing them with a capable developer could only lead to a high-quality game.

In essence, Warner Bros. has chosen to terminate the project with Monolith for their upcoming DC game, a title that fans were eagerly awaiting. It seems Warner Bros.’ approach to business involves spending funds almost as readily as they earn it.

It’s no secret that this company’s questionable tactics have come under scrutiny. Following the success of Shadow of Mordor and War, they opted to patent their Nemesis system, an action often criticized as self-centered in the gaming industry. It would have been intriguing to witness other games adopt and innovate this system, but WB chose to protect it exclusively for themselves.

Imagining just one company like Capcom dominating the fighting game market or God of War being the sole franchise for character action games seems preposterous, doesn’t it? It would be madness indeed. Similarly, it’s hard to fathom that keeping a unique game mechanic exclusive to Warner Bros. was a questionable decision all around.

At minimum, it’s plausible that the Nemesis system be incorporated into a Wonder Woman video game given Diana’s comic book battles against mythical adversaries. Comic fans are aware of her encounters with creature-humans, extraterrestrials, and deity-like beings, and this would align perfectly.

In a proposed scenario for this DC game, whispers suggested that Diana would battle to regain Themyscira from Circe. This hinted at an ideal opportunity to employ the Nemesis system. Although Circe may seem weak as a villain, she provides a justification for Diana to engage in combat with Amazon warriors who have been possessed. Imagine how thrilling it would be if these Amazons could taunt and demonstrate distinct personalities, similar to the orcs from Shadow of Mordor? Such an approach certainly seems profitable.

As a gamer, I was really excited about the concept of the Wonder Woman game, thinking it would be a slam dunk. However, as soon as I saw it, the atmosphere turned grim. The initial 2021 trailer left me concerned when DC didn’t follow up with more promotional content. Every now and then, we’d catch glimpses of leaked artwork for the game, but nothing substantial ever came from the companies that should be hyping it.

Following this development, rumors surfaced that the upcoming DC game would adopt a live-service model, prompting a wave of disappointment among fans worldwide. However, Warner Bros. denies these claims, but their actions regarding Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League have made it difficult to take them at their word.

Shortly following this, it was announced that the Wonder Woman game being developed by Monolith would need to go back to the drawing board. Fans tried to stay optimistic, considering Metroid Prime 4 had also been restarted and is set for a release in the current year. However, as this iconic DC character doesn’t enjoy the same level of adoration and trust among gamers compared to other franchises, fans were bracing themselves for the possibility that this game might be cancelled altogether.

Shockingly enough, I found myself caught off guard when Warner Bros. decided to terminate their highly anticipated Wonder Woman game by dismantling the talented team at Monolith. It’s not just me who feels the sting, as Player First Games, the developers behind MultiVersus, were also forced to cease operations.

The grim reality that MultiVersus was no more was already a tough pill to swallow, but this announcement served as an additional pinch of sorrow for fans like myself.

It’s disheartening to see Warner Bros. discard multi-million dollar ideas from various studios. With the vast array of franchises this company manages, MultiVersus seems destined for an endless run. The Suicide Squad could have been enjoyable as a game, but they turned it into a live-service mess linked to the cherished Arkham series. Ironically, Gotham Knights would have been a far superior game if it were connected to Arkham Knight and retained that exceptional, non-patented combat system.

At this point, an amusing reference to a somewhat lackluster Marvel series on Disney Plus might come to mind: “Imagine if Warner Bros. simply developed that Wonder Woman video game instead!

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2025-02-26 14:12