Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League – Underperforming Sales and Criticisms
3 min read
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, the latest release from Rocksteady Studios, has been met with underperforming sales and criticisms since its launch on February 2nd, 2024. The game, which was highly anticipated due to Rocksteady’s previous successes with the Batman: Arkham series, has failed to meet the expectations of both critics and players.
During a financial call to investors, Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Financial Officer, Gunnar Wiedenfels, acknowledged the game’s disappointing performance. “Suicide Squad, one of our key video game releases in 2024, has fallen short of our expectations since its release earlier in the quarter,” Wiedenfels stated, as reported by IGN.
The game’s underperformance is particularly notable given the success of Warner Bros.’ previous release, Hogwarts Legacy, which sold extremely well in the same quarter the previous year. The financial call also highlighted that Suicide Squad’s poor sales have set the games business up for a tough year-over-year comparison in Q1.
The criticisms of Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League extend beyond its sales figures. The game has been heavily criticized for its persistent server and login issues, as well as its gameplay, which has been described as “tedious,” “fussy,” and “meagre.” In Rock Paper Shotgun’s review, Steve Hogarty wrote, “The vast talent of Rocksteady peeps out just often enough to make it worthwhile for the genre’s fans, but the game’s extended development time has Suicide Squad chasing old trends, leaving it feeling cautious, unambitious and old-fashioned.”
The game’s underperformance and criticisms have led some players to view it as a cautionary tale in the era of live service games. The frustration with Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is not just about the game itself, but also about the trend of publishers releasing games with tedious daily challenges, fussy combat, meagre loot, and multiple currencies.
Despite the criticisms, Rocksteady has attempted to address some of the issues. They have apologized to players for the game finishing itself and have gifted in-game cash to early adopters. However, the fundamental issues remain, leaving many players and critics questioning the direction of the game and the future of Rocksteady Studios.
The underperformance of Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is a reminder that even the most talented developers and publishers can face challenges in the ever-evolving world of video games. The game’s disappointing sales and criticisms serve as a reminder that the industry is not immune to the pressures of commercial success and the expectations of fans.
As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Rocksteady and other developers respond to the criticisms and challenges faced by Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League. Whether through updates, patches, or new releases, the future of the game and the industry as a whole remains to be seen.
In conclusion, Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League’s underperforming sales and criticisms serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by developers and publishers in the ever-evolving world of video games. The game’s disappointing reception highlights the importance of addressing player concerns and the need for innovation in the industry. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Rocksteady and other developers respond to the criticisms and challenges faced by Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League.
