After scrubbing the plans for certain films, it seems Warner Bros. is now taking down one of its video game divisions. Adult Swim Games, which published titles like Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality, Duck Game, Pool Panic, and more, appears to have arrived at the end of its lifespan as several developers received a notification concerning the situation from the WBD executives suite.
The announcement has fans worried, as it could wipe out years of updates and a community built around those video games in the blink of an eye. The developers of these games are unsure about the future of the titles, and those unhappy with the decision are trying to retain the ownership of the games.
Warner Bros Appears To Have Made Up Its Mind
A total of 21 base games and four DLCs currently listed on Adult Swim Games’ Steam page are likely to be removed. As of now, developers of three games have been notified, and 18 remain intact, but for how long, no one can say.
Just a couple of days ago, WBD reached out to Small Radios Big Television developers to inform them about retiring their game from Steam.
WarnerBros Discovery have informed me they will be 'retiring' my game Small Radios Big Televisions from both Steam and PS4 stores.
I've made it free to download here: https://t.co/Fn82RfKBcf
Thanks for all your support. pic.twitter.com/DCWsVtFYlR
— Owen Deery (@owendeery) March 5, 2024
Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality is among the oldest games on the list, which came out in 2017, and is the only virtual reality game in there. The developers of the title haven’t been contacted by WBD executives yet, however it seems to be just a matter of time before contact is made.
The idea for the game’s development emerged during a social gathering at the residence of the series’ co-creator, Justin Roiland. It came out in 2017 and was met with “generally favorable reviews” by critics. Despite the possible implications for the game, it is unlikely the sitcom will be affected in any way.
It’s Not Official Yet And Let’s Hope It Remains That Way
Now that the decision has likely been made, developers are throwing themselves at the task of preserving their games. They have asked Warner Bros. to transfer the IP rights, which seemingly only takes a few clicks, but the company has refused to do so. Apparently, they cited a lack of resources to do so.
I sent them the Steam Transfer link, explained that it takes 3 clicks, and they still refused, claiming it would only be fair to transfer no one's games since they can't do them all.
— bean (@onemrbean) March 7, 2024
Although there aren’t any official debates surrounding the closing down of Adult Swim Games, WBD’s move implies a possibility.
The publication has been active since 2005 and is praised by critics for the quality of its video games. It would come as a sigh of relief for the community if WBD saves the publisher as a part of other plans.
From layoffs to this, it certainly is a depressing phase for gaming. We are only three months into 2024 and companies including Microsoft, Sony, Unity, and more, have already slashed employee numbers in the name of sustainable growth. Hopefully, things improve in the industry very soon.
Do you think Adult Swim Games will remain a part of the company? Let us know in the comments.
