Warner Bros. Games Montréal, the studio behind Gotham Knights and Batman: Arkham Origins, may have experienced a recent round of layoffs, according to LinkedIn posts from three former employees. Founded in 2010 as a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Games, the Montreal studio has a history of developing DC-themed titles and was most recently responsible for the 2022 action RPG Gotham Knights.

Details of the Reported Layoffs

The three developers—Ceri Young, a former Associate Narrative Director; Camille Olivier Paquette, a former Level Designer; and Nicolas Pereira-Poisson, a former Associate Producer had announced on LinkedIn that they had left the studio on March 13. Pereira-Poisson specifically noted he was “affected by layoffs,” while the other posts did not clarify the reasons. Young, Paquette, and Pereira-Poisson had extensive tenures at the studio, ranging from nearly seven to nine years. It is currently unclear whether other staff were impacted in this round.

Context Behind Warner Bros. Games Challenges

This potential wave of layoffs comes amid broader turbulence for Warner Bros. Games. The company has faced a series of commercial challenges over recent years. Despite Hogwarts Legacy being the best-selling game of 2023, the following year saw Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League reportedly result in a $200 million loss. Earlier, Warner Bros. had shut down Multiversus, canceled its in-development Wonder Woman game, and closed three other studios: Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and Warner Bros. Games San Diego.

Complicating matters further, Warner Bros. Discovery is currently in the process of being acquired by Paramount, with cost-cutting reportedly central to the acquisition strategy. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, who was previously involved in the bidding process, indicated that production staff costs are among Warner Bros.’ largest expenses, and Paramount is planning significant reductions.

Leadership Changes and Future Outlook

Even before the Paramount acquisition began, Warner Bros. Games CEO David Zaslav acknowledged in 2024 that the games division was “substantially underperforming” and announced a renewed focus on four key franchises: Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC. Last year, leaders of WB Games Montreal, WB Games New York, and NetherRealm were promoted to oversee these flagship franchises. The long-term impact of these leadership shifts, combined with the reported layoffs, remains uncertain.

While Warner Bros. has not officially commented on the layoffs at its Montreal studio, industry analysts suggest the combination of financial pressures, recent commercial disappointments, and the impending Paramount acquisition could lead to further restructuring across the company’s gaming, film, and TV divisions.

What This Means for Gotham Knights and WB Montreal

For players of Gotham Knights, these developments may signal changes in the studio’s future projects or support plans. WB Games Montreal has a history of DC-focused storytelling, but with ongoing internal restructuring, the studio’s direction could shift to align with Warner Bros.’ strategy to concentrate on the most profitable franchises.

As the situation develops, the gaming community will be watching closely to see how these layoffs impact both the studio’s creative output and the broader portfolio of Warner Bros. Games titles.