Published , by Donovan Erskine
Published , by Donovan Erskine
Updated on January 20 at 3:05 p.m. PT: Crystal Dynamics has released a statement confirming that Marvel's Avengers will receive its final patch on March 31, 2023. Official support for the game will end on September 30, 2023. The rest of this article remains as originally written.
When Marvel’s Avengers launched, its unique campaign that centered on young hero Ms. Marvel was lauded by fans and critics. Its multiplayer component, however, was far less favored. It struggled to find a large audience out of the gate and was the biggest point of criticism of the game overall. Roughly two and a half years after its launch, new reports allege that publisher Square Enix may soon pull the plug on Marvel’s Avengers.
A report from eXputer was published earlier today, stating that Marvel’s Avengers would soon be given the axe. Often described as “sunsetting,” this means that the game would receive no more content updates, DLC, or patches. The servers would be left up for existing fans, but all other development would stop. The outlet claims that sources within developer Crystal Dynamics have said that an official announcement could be coming sometime next week. The article also points toward a report from December 2022 that claimed plans were in motion for Marvel’s Avengers to retire in 2023.
Marvel’s Avengers’ multiplayer component took a games-as-a-service-style approach, with routine updates designed to keep players engaged longterm. Unfortunately, a lack of content at launch and some road bumps afterward caused many players to bounce off of the superhero game rather quickly. Over the past two years, Marvel’s Avengers got major updates that brought characters like Black Panther and Jane Foster to the game.
Marvel’s Avengers wouldn’t be the only GaaS title to fail to meet its full potential. EA’s Anthem also had ambitions of replicating the success of games like Destiny 2, only for its life to be cut short.
We here at Shacknews gave Marvel’s Avengers a positive review when it launched in 2020, mostly on the back of its impressive campaign. As we await an official announcement from Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix, stick with Shacknews.