The free-to-play platform fighterMultiVersuslaunched its open beta alongside a strong marketing campaign last year, but hype surrounding the title died down leading up to its current hiatus. Featuring various iconic characters under the Warner Bros. umbrella from Bugs Bunny to Arya Stark,MultiVersusinitially managed to reach hundreds of thousands of players with itsSuper Smash Bros.inspired, team-based gameplay. Interest may have waned for the title over time, but it still has a chance to bounce back into the spotlight when it fully launches in early 2024 if it can recapture the spark it initially generated.
MultiVersuscame as part of a wave of new platform fighters, but the biggest names competing withSmash Bros.are almost all in a strange place relative to their inspiration now. Released just a year prior in 2021,Nickelodeon All-Star Brawlfollowed a very similar course to Warner Bros.’ outing in the genre that wasn’t helped by its full box price. Regardless of its current status, however, the Nickelodeon crossover performed decently enough at launch that rumors ofa sequel toAll-Star Brawlhave begun circulating already. With untapped potential similar to that of its Nickelodeon competitor ready to be unlocked,MultiVersushas one big strength it could lean into.
RELATED:When MultiVersus Returns, It Needs to Make a Statement
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl Followed a Similar Path to MultiVersus
The developer ofMultiVersusmay have actively chosen to end its open beta in June with the conclusion of the game’s second season, but interest in the title had already been fading along with support from major influencers. Seeing an over 99% drop in player count in the months following its initial release,MultiVersusclearly lacked something thatSuper Smash Bros.brings to the table. One simple fact of the matter is that whileSmash’s roster consists of countless iconsunder a more cohesive brand, the Warner Bros. ensemble of characters has nowhere near the same level of unity.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawlis composed of nothing but major faces from its singular brand, but that game’s lack of lasting success can be attributed to a completely different issue. While it may seem minor, the lack of voice acting until amajor patch forAll-Star Brawlin 2022 may have been the biggest thing holding the game back. When characters from Spongebob to Nigel Thornberry can’t even utter a single one of their famous lines in a huge crossover, it dampens the impact of the entire event. The title’s unpolished visuals similarly played a role in its downfall, but a game likeAll-Star Brawlultimately relies much more heavily upon heart than technical fidelity. It has the characters, but not the impact, whereasMultiversusfollows a similar, if inverted, trend.
More Cartoon Network Characters Would Give MultiVersus a Cohesive Roster
All-Star Brawl’s sequel may bring fierce competition if it manages to overcome the original’s shortcomings, butMultiVersuscould match this power with one of Warner Bros. most classic properties. Containing a multitude of iconic casts between years of high-quality programming,Cartoon Networkis one of the most beloved television channels of its era. A direct competitor to Nickelodeon, similarly capitalizing on nostalgic, classic shows likeThe Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy,The Powerpuff Girls,andEd, Edd n Eddycould allowMultiVersusto shine with star power more befitting of its art style.
Alternatives toSuper Smash Bros. UltimateinMultiVersusandAll-Star Brawlalike have fallen short of recreating the platform fighter’s magic, but that doesn’t make it an impossible feat.Indie titleRivals of Aetherhas found a dedicated fanbase with itsMelee-inspired gameplay despite its lack of big-name licensed characters, whileBrawlhallais a great example of a title with a free-to-play model that has succeeded in the genre. There is no shortage of support for media focused on older beloved characters from Cartoon Network, and it stands to reason thatMultiVersuscan bounce back bigger than ever if it truly utilizes the Warner Bros library.
MultiVersusis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Mortal Kombat 1’s Kameo Fighters Are a Step Toward MultiVersus' Best Feature
