David Bridges
This weekend marks the conclusion of a brief yet peculiar chapter in gaming history: MultiVersus, a platform fighting game featuring a diverse array of Warner Bros. characters, has officially shut down. Initially envisioned as a potential competitor to Super Smash Bros., the game garnered attention with its intriguing premise but ultimately fell short, leading Warner Bros. to discontinue support approximately one year after its full relaunch. This closure highlights the ever-changing landscape of the gaming industry, where even the most promising titles can quickly fade away.
The demise of MultiVersus isn’t particularly shocking, especially considering the mid-2020s trend of numerous multiplayer games being discontinued or losing support shortly after launch. Titles like Babylon’s Fall, Crossfire X, Gundam Evolution, and even WB’s own Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League serve as notable examples of this phenomenon. Opinions vary on the reasons behind MultiVersus’ downfall; some critics point to issues with the game’s monetization strategy, while others argue that the differences between its lengthy open beta and the official 1.0 release in 2024 contributed to its decline.
Some industry experts believe that the character roster ultimately influenced MultiVersus’ fate. With Warner Bros. possessing a vast collection of intellectual properties, the intention was to curate a lineup of characters that would resonate with a broad audience. However, this strategy backfired; while the game featured iconic A-listers like Batman and LeBron James, it also included lesser-known figures from franchises like Gremlins and supporting characters from Adventure Time. For dedicated fighting game enthusiasts, the absence of significant DC icons—such as Flash or Robin—and beloved Cartoon Network characters like Ben 10, Gumball, and Dexter felt like a missed opportunity. While many gamers would have relished the chance to play as a teenage Ben 10, transforming into Rath to battle against Superman, the more pressing issue was that the core concept of MultiVersus had lost its novelty.
In the past, crossovers between intellectual properties felt like delightful surprises, evoking excitement among fans. Those who grew up in the 90s likely cherish memories of unique collaborations, such as Jimmy/Timmy Power Hour, or Kim Possible teaming up with Lilo & Stitch, and the chaotic mix of Billy and Mandy with the Kids Next Door. The rarity of these events added to their appeal; while the Jimmy/Timmy crossover was a recurring trilogy, other collaborations were sporadic, allowing shows to return to their usual storylines after a brief interlude. Fast forward to the 2020s, and the landscape has shifted dramatically; companies like Warner Bros. and Disney now aim to create grand, attention-grabbing crossover events, which unfortunately diminishes the element of surprise. It’s clear that Warner Bros. is eager to showcase its diverse intellectual properties, a sentiment heavily emphasized in Space Jam: A New Legacy, where the connections felt overly forceful and lacking subtlety.
Throughout the lifespan of MultiVersus, we witnessed iconic characters like Batman and Marvel heroes crossing over into Fortnite, horror film icons entering the realm of Mortal Kombat, and players battling monsters as Aloy and Geralt of Rivia. Additionally, the most recent Call of Duty titles have incorporated characters such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Squid Game soldiers, WWE superstars, and Paul Atreides as post-launch downloadable content for eager players. While many have embraced these additions, a significant portion of the gaming community perceives the overwhelming influx of IP skins as excessive and potentially detrimental to game quality. Reports indicate that Activision intends to adopt a more measured approach moving forward, but it’s evident that gamers are not necessarily clamoring for their favorite characters to engage in combat against one another.
Similar to the fate of Suicide Squad before it, MultiVersus fell victim to Warner Bros.‘ relentless pursuit of monetary gain within the gaming sector. Unfortunately, the studio Player First faced the most significant consequences—after the full launch of the game, Warner Bros. acquired the studio, which is now closed along with its ambitious project. Meanwhile, the trend of crossovers continues unabated: DC is set to allow its characters to interact with Marvel for the first time in two decades, and Netherrealm is expected to incorporate characters from various IP sources into its next project, widely anticipated to be Injustice 3. As the demand for crossovers persists, we can expect an ongoing influx of character interactions until all conceivable worlds have collided.
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Daniel Mercer
