Support for Marvel’s Avengers will end later this year, developer Crystal Dynamics has announced. On September 30, 2023 – little over three years after the game officially launched – it will be removed from sale on digital storefronts.
Those who already own Marvel’s Avengers or purchase it before this date will still be able to access its solo campaign and online multiplayer indefinitely. However, there will be no further title updates following the release of version 2.8 at the end of March.
If you’re thinking of purchasing any in-game Credits then don’t. After update 2.8, all items in the Marketplace will be completely free to access, including all hero cosmetics, takedowns, and other items previously locked behind premium currency. Those who have previously purchased Credits won’t receive a refund, their Credits being converted into crafting resources.
For many months, Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics had attempted to revitalise their big budget superhero game. However, despite a stream of free content updates in the form of new playable heroes, locations, and missions, it did little to pave over its more fundamental flaws.
Since going hands on with an early build of the game, it felt like a singleplayer action awkwardly stretched to fit the multiplayer mould its publisher demanded. Square Enix wanted to create the next Destiny or The Division but it simply didn’t work. Marvel’s Avengers succeeded in assembling a cast of heroes with diverse powers and playstyles within a fun albeit repetitive co-op brawler. The formula could have worked if not for a lack of interesting multiplayer content, convoluted progression systems, and missing features such as online cross-play and a “join-in-progress” option.
On the other hand, the game’s free content updates were a nice shot in the arm. Sharpshooters Kate Bishop and Hawkeye joined the Avengers cast not long after launch with Black Panther helming his own free expansion – War for Wakanda – in 2021.
Since then, however, the arrival of new heroes felt less significant. The PlayStation-exclusive Spider-Man content came and went with little fanfare, followed up Jane Foster whose moveset and powers closely mimicked that of Thor. The Winter Soldier was the last character added, though reports suggest that Crystal had planned for more, including Captain Marvel, She-Hulk, and Ironheart. Although they will never be playable, it would be great for the developers to share their cancelled plans with the fan community.
It’s a sad yet predictable end for Marvel’s Avengers. With the paywalls about to be removed, we’d recommend diving in and giving it go before official support ends. That singleplayer campaign is still worth a playthrough.
Source: Marvel’s Avengers
Nate
It’s bizarre they are removing it from sale, if the single player and multiplayer are still going to be active. Definitely worth picking up cheap for the single player story!
Stefan L
Not that bizarre when it’s a licensed game from a publisher that sold off the developers that made it. It could be there’s licenses set to expire after 3 years, or perhaps the only reason it’s lasted this long is because of contractual obligations and that Square Enix want done with it as soon as possible, since it tanked upon release and won’t bring them any meaningful profits. Removing from sale will just take it off the books.