MultiVersus: The Surprising Gains After Going Offline

Highlights

MultiVersus had a strong start with an ambitious crossover fighting game concept, but shutting down its beta servers may have been a death sentence.

Due to infrequent updates and an inadequate monetization model, player interest dwindled and the number of active players significantly decreased. The significant gap in time between the beta phase's closure and the game's official release may pose a challenge for MultiVersus in reclaiming its initial success, particularly given the presence of rival fighting games.

Warner Bros. seemed to have a major hit on their hands with MultiVersus when it burst onto the fighting game scene in July 2022. However, the studio has now taken its beta servers offline. The game is expected to make a comeback in early 2024, and many fans are eagerly anticipating its return. Unfortunately, shutting down the game after its initial success could be detrimental to its future.

MultiVersus followed in the footsteps of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate by bringing together various franchises in an exciting fighting game. The characters were impressive, the gameplay was enjoyable, and the stages were well-designed. It appeared that Player First Games was dedicated to creating the best possible experience, and their passion captured a lot of attention. Therefore, the decision to close the beta seems perplexing. Not only does this make players more hesitant to invest in the game again, but it also opens the door for other fighting games to rise in popularity.

MultiVersus May Never Be Able to Come Back

MultiVersus experienced remarkable success upon its initial launch in July 2022 during its early access beta phase. It achieved the status of being the most significant fighting game launch on Steam, boasting the highest number of downloads on the PlayStation store, and gaining immense popularity on the Steam Deck. Swiftly, it gathered a staggering 10 million players by August and an impressive 20 million by September. These achievements implied that Warner Bros. Games had a formidable contender on their hands. However, as time went on, circumstances swiftly shifted.

The initial character lineup was captivating, and the first season's content further enriched the game's offerings. Unfortunately, Player First Games failed to consistently provide enough fresh content to maintain player interest. Additionally, the monetization approach left much to be desired. This led players to explore alternative games, causing a drastic decline in MultiVersus' active player count. By June 2023, the game's playerbase had significantly diminished, becoming a mere shadow of its former self.

MultiVersus was already in decline prior to Warner Bros.' announcement of its shutdown and impending full release. Currently, players have little knowledge of what changes the full release will bring. If Player First Games fails to maintain a consistent update schedule, players will have little incentive to return. It is unlikely that the game will regain its initial success, and the extended gap between releases will further hinder its chances.

Furthermore, MultiVersus players may be less enthusiastic about investing in the game's content following the closure of the open beta. The studio introduced a purchasable currency and a premium Battle Pass filled with cosmetics that players could earn during the beta. While the inclusion of microtransactions was logical for a free-to-play game, it seemed out of place during the beta period. After players had already spent money on this content, the game abruptly closed, leaving them unable to access their purchases until further notice.

MultiVersus runs the risk of losing its audience to rival games during this extended hiatus. With many major studios attempting to replicate the success of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the competition within the genre is becoming more saturated with each passing month. By the time MultiVersus makes its comeback, players may have already discovered and immersed themselves in alternative online fighting games, such as Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2. As a result, Player First Games may face significant challenges in re-attracting these fans. The full release of MultiVersus is positioned in a challenging position upon its arrival in stores. With players already abandoning the game in large numbers, their enthusiasm for purchasing additional cosmetics may wane, and the void left by their departure could be filled by other games. Unless Player First Games can once again captivate audiences with something unexpected, this closure may prove to be the final blow undermining the game's future prospects.

MultiVersus will launch in 2024 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S