Marvel has been making waves in the free-to-play gaming scene, with their recent ventures proving to be quite the hit. Take Marvel Snap, for instance. Although it’s not their first mobile game offering, it swiftly became a standout success when it launched in late 2022, boasting over 12 million downloads in just its first month. While the initial buzz might have simmered down a tad, Marvel Snap continues to thrive, consistently rolling out new content to keep players engaged.
Now, let’s talk about their latest sensation, Marvel Rivals. Released last December, this game has swept up more than 20 million players. With its ambitious content roadmap, it seems poised to hold on to a sizable chunk of its player base for quite some time. Given how well Marvel Snap and Marvel Rivals have been doing, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Marvel dip their toes into more free-to-play ventures. One genre in particular seems ripe for exploration.
Moving on to the MMO space, there’s a notable contender still in the game: DC Universe Online. This title first hit consoles and PCs way back in January 2011. Surviving and thriving for over 14 years is no small feat for a free-to-play game, and that’s a testament to the dedicated team that’s kept this MMO thriving with regular content for its enthusiastic fan base.
However, DC Universe Online is starting to show its age. Currently on its 48th episode, “Harley Quinn vs Apokolips,” the game carries the hallmark of a veteran with some dated visuals and clunky mechanics that harken back to older MMOs. Combat often devolves into mere button-mashing, with little to no feedback from enemy models. Despite these aging aspects, it still holds a place in the gaming world. But if a new, vibrant competitor were to emerge, they could quickly capture a lion’s share of the market.
Enter a potential Marvel MMO. For Marvel to succeed here, they’d need to bring their A-game, channeling the dynamism seen in Marvel Rivals. From captivating art styles to fluid animations and modern gameplay systems, a Marvel MMO would need to come out swinging with a wealth of content ready from the get-go and more soon after.
Of course, this wouldn’t be Marvel’s first attempt at a large-scale MMO. Back in 2013, Marvel Heroes made its debut in early access. This action-RPG MMO offered an exciting roster of 21 heroes at its launch, each with three distinct skill trees. Adding weight to its storytelling, the game featured a narrative by the acclaimed comic writer Brian Michael Bendis, known for his work on characters like Miles Morales and Jessica Jones.
Initially, Marvel Heroes had a rough start, but by its 2015 iteration, it had won over many players. Unfortunately, behind the scenes, turmoil was brewing. In 2016, David Brevik, then CEO of Gazillion Entertainment—the studio behind Marvel Heroes—departed. His successor, Dave Dohrmann, became embroiled in serious allegations of workplace misconduct.
By November 2017, the partnership with Disney was dissolved, and Gazillion was abruptly shuttered. Employees were caught off-guard, blindsided by the sudden termination of their roles.
As we stand today, without a suitable replacement for Marvel Heroes, there’s undeniably a gap in Marvel’s gaming portfolio. Filling that void with a new, robust MMO could be a golden opportunity for Marvel to capture gamers’ imaginations once again.
