Nine months ago, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was written off as one of gaming’s most high-profile failures (well at least until Concord). Rocksteady Studios, known for the Batman: Arkham series struggled with its first live service project.
It seems the game isn’t entirely dead. | Image Credit: Rocksteady Studios
Despite a $200 million loss for Warner Bros., terrible player counts, and a flood of poor reviews, the game has recently shown signs of life. Thanks to massive holiday discounts, player counts are climbing, suggesting that this troubled title may have finally found its footing, or at least a niche audience.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League
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The new Suicide Squad game had everything going against it during development.
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From its announcement, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League struggled to win over fans. As a co-op, live-service shooter from Rocksteady Studios which is best known for the Batman: Arkham series, the game felt disconnected from the studio’s expertise,
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is $3.49 for the Standard Edition and $5 for the Digital Deluxe Edition on Steam. Star Wars Outlaws and Dragon Age: The Veilguard will most likely suffer a similar trend.
But for now, Warner Bros. you have a deal! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/bjIaMLeuus
— Project Eggroll 🥚🥚 (@projecteggroll) November 30, 2024
Poor reception led to a dramatic fall in player numbers, with Warner Bros. reporting a $200 million loss. By late summer, active players on Steam hovered below 140 as players wanted to just cut losses. The numbers have recently gone up though, thanks to the Steam Autumn Sale.
The ambitious but flawed game is now available for a mere $3.50 on Steam, down from its original $70 price. According to SteamCharts, the game reached a 24-hour peak of over 2,500 concurrent players during the Steam Autumn Sale.
Warner Bros. Said that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League ‘Has Fallen Short of Our Expectations’.
Ubisoft had a rough launch of ‘AAAA’ Game Skull and Bones
Society is healing because Gamers are voting with their wallet pic.twitter.com/ii87h8p6mV
— NikTek (@NikTekOfficial) February 23, 2024
Holiday sales are undoubtedly driving this resurgence. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday offering steep discounts, even the game’s deluxe edition which was initially priced at $100 has gone down to $5. The chance to play a “AAA” game at a bargain price has been too tempting to resist for a lot of people.
Can the Game Even Pull Off a Comeback?
Nothing could’ve saved the game at release. | Credit: Rocksteady Studios
Over its lifespan, Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League has introduced several updates and expansions. This includes new playable characters such as Joker, Mrs. Freeze, and Zoe Lawton (Lawless). While the game’s initial flaws remain, Rocksteady has steadily added content over the past nine months.
Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League saw a surprise player peak of 2,561 on Steam after a 95% price drop. Will this be enough to save the game, or will WB Games need to retool it into a free-to-play model? #SuicideSquad #KillTheJusticeLeague #gaming #videogames pic.twitter.com/rnHcfirpK3
— thegamingmystic (@thegamingmystic) December 2, 2024
The latest discount frenzy has brought a wave of new players into the mix, giving the game a fresh chance to prove itself as a worthwhile but imperfect experience. Despite the recent spike in players, a real comeback would be incredibly difficult.
To be able to pull off a redemption arc like those of No Man’s Sky or Cyberpunk 2077, Suicide Squad would need more than discounts. A shift to a free-to-play model could be one way to guarantee short-term player activity while the studio thinks of long-term solutions.
After all, even No Man’s Sky, a game that is considered to have the best comeback arc in all of gaming, took eight years to reach where it is today. So while it’s possible, it won’t be as straightforward as you might think.
For now, its $3.50 price tag is giving players a low-risk opportunity to see if Suicide Squad deserves a second chance. Have you bought the game for its low price in the sale? Let us know in the comments!
