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MultiVersus returns in May with a new mode, Unreal 5 tweaks, and more

Key art for the relaunch of MultiVersus in 2024.
WB Games

WB Games and Player First Games announced that MultiVersus, their free-to-play fighting game featuring characters from various Warner Bros.’ owned properties, will return on May 28.

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MultiVersus, a fighting game heavily inspired by Super Smash Bros., originally entered an Open Beta period on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox in July 2022 and became a surprise hit when I did so. I gave MultiVersus a three-and-a-half-star review and called it “fun at its core, with a take on the platform genre that is wholly unique.” Interest in the game eventually dropped off hard, though, and in March 2023, WB Games announced plans to take the game offline so Player First Games could refine it for a 2024 release. It’s been unplayable online since June 2023, and fans worried whether MultiVersus would ever return.

MultiVersus - Official Developer Update: The Road to Launch

In a video posted on YouTube Monday morning, Game Director Tony Huynh confirmed MultiVersus‘ impending return. Huynh explained that Player First Games has used this extra time to add new characters like Marvin the Martian and new stages, bring the game over to Unreal Engine 5 to improve its visuals, add new moves and mechanics to existing characters, and improve the netcode and game performance in online play. Cross-play and cross-progression will be supported at release.

The relaunched MultiVersus will also include a PvE gameplay mode. Footage of the mode shows Wonder Woman and Finn from Adventure Time fighting off a computer-controlled Marvin the Martian and LeBron James.

When it launches, MultiVersus will be available on all the platforms it was originally: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Tomas Franzese
A former Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese now reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…
MultiVersus to shut down in June ahead of relaunch in 2024
Batman holding Shaggy.

MultiVersus' Open Beta is getting shut down on June 25, but the game isn't shutting down for good. Instead, developer Player First Games and publisher WB Games are taking MultiVersus offline ahead of a planned relaunch in early 2024.
MultiVersus - Open Beta Update
The fighting game, which is Warner Bros. version of Super Smash Bros., launched last year to some acclaim from fans and critics. Despite an initial wave of popularity, the game's active player base tanked in 2023, dropping by 99% at one point. Now, the game will largely go offline while the developers work towards an official 1.0 release. Game director Tony Huynh explained the unusual move in a video and FAQ detailing what's next.
"There is still a lot of work to do, and we have a clearer view on where we need to focus, specifically on the content cadence of new characters, maps, and modes to provide more ways to enjoy the game, along with netcode and matchmaking improvements," says Huynh. "We’ll also be reworking the progression system and looking at new ways for players to connect with friends in the game ... As part of this process, we’ll be pausing updates and taking the game offline as we prepare for the launch of MultiVersus, which we are targeting for early 2024."
After June 25, those who have MultiVersus downloaded will only be able to play offline modes like training and local multiplayer. The game will no longer be available to download and premium currency Gleamium will no longer be available for purchase after April 4. To compensate, MultiVersus' Season 2 battle pass is being extended until March 25, and all purchased items and progression will be carried over to next year's launch. 
While players got the impression that MultiVersus was going to stay live from open beta through its 1.0 launch, that is apparently not the case. Hopefully, Player First Games and WB Games stick to their word and do eventually re-release the game, as it could be better with some much-needed improvements. 
MultiVersus' Open Beta ends on June 25, with the full game's launch slated for early 2024. 

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Multiversus’ 99% player drop is a lesson in how not to make a free-to-play game
Bugs Bunny holding a pie in Multiversus.

When Warner Brothers' Super Smash Bros.-like fighting game Multiversus launched last year, it was an immediate success. Players flocked to the free-to-play game in its first few months, battling it out as their favorite WB characters. It seemed like the publisher had a rare hit on its hand, breaking through to the mainstream with a genre that's long been painted as a difficultyniche with a high barrier for entry.

MultiVersus - Rick Reveal

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MultiVersus adds Marvin the Martian and Game of Thrones stage in Season 2
MultiVersus Season 2 key art

MultiVersus season 2 has just begun, and Warner Bros. Games and Player First Games have announced a couple of new additions to the game: Marvin the Martian and a new stage based on Game of Thrones.

Marvin the Martian is the third Looney Tunes character to be added to the MultiVersus fighters roster after Bugs Bunny and Taz -- or fourth if you include LeBron James from Space Jam: A New Legacy. The polite alien will come with his trademark Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator explosive device, powerful blaster, and spaceship-summoning abilities. His full move set will be revealed at a later time.

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