Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

MultiVersus gets Taz, the Iron Giant, and a summer beta

By

Warner Bros. Games released its cinematic trailer for MultiVersus, the free-to-play Super Smash Bros.-style fighting game featuring your favorite characters across various Warner Bros. franchises courtesy of Player First Games. The game is getting an open beta this summer.

After the game was announced in November 2021, Warner Bros. confirmed that Bugs Bunny, Finn and Jake from Adventure Time, Shaggy from Scooby-Doo, Arya Stark from Game of Thrones, Garnet and Steven from Steven Universe, and some DC superheroes were on the MultiVersus fighter roster. On Monday, the trailer revealed three more characters added to the mix: The whirlwind Tasmanian Devil (aka Taz), mystery-solving sleuth Velma from Scooby-Doo, and an animated film fan favorite, The Iron Giant.

MultiVersus – Official Cinematic Trailer - "You're with Me!"

Warner Bros. also announced that the open beta test for MultiVersus will start in July, but it hasn’t revealed when players will be able to sign up for it. In the meantime, you can still register for the closed alpha test, which starts on Thursday and runs through May 27.

Recommended Videos

The alpha test will allow you to play as 15 characters, including the recently introduced Taz and Velma (excluding The Iron Giant for some reason). It will feature seven different arenas, including Batman’s Batcave, Finn and Jake’s Tree Fort, and Scooby’s Haunted Mansion. Players will be able to test various modes, including 2-versus-2 team-based co-op mode, one-on-one matches, four-player free-for-all fights, and practice mode in The Lab.

Related: 
Best new movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max (HBO), and more

MultiVersus hasn’t been given an exact release date yet, but it’s already been confirmed that Warner Bros. will host a 22-versus-2 tournament for the game at EVO in the future. The game is slated to release on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC with crossplay support.

Cristina Alexander
Cristina Alexander
Gaming/Mobile Writer
Cristina Alexander is a gaming and mobile writer at Digital Trends. She blends fair coverage of games industry topics that…
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

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. 

Read more
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

Read more
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.

Read more