Development on Marvel’s Avengers is reportedly set to end with Update 2.8 in March 2023, bringing an early demise to the divisive title. These reports arrive after rumors in December that developer Crystal Dynamics planned to sunset the title by the end of 2023. Due to this early end, all future content is officially scrapped, leaving fans of the unfinished game with little to show for their loyalty.
Marvel's Avengers is no stranger to controversy, as early criticisms lead to the title launching to critical and commercial disappointment. Fans of the series stuck with it, however, and placed their hopes in a variety of future updates that could improve it. Crystal Dynamics' announcement that it scrapped the roadmap for Avengers early, with many updates already announced or leaked for the title, hope to see these features has all but diminished overnight.
Patrol Mode
Patrol Mode was an officially confirmed feature for Marvel's Avengers, announced by Crystal Dynamics way back in March 2021. The developer described Patrol Mode as the "largest Warzone to date", with players able to explore and fulfill objectives without the constraints of a mission. The mode was set to include exclusive rewards and would allow fans to complete any quest they pleased. When a year passed without any updates, loyal fans were left questioning what happened to Patrol Mode. Many believed that the mode would provide a significant boost to the game's playability, as the constraints enforced by Avengers' gameplay were a longstanding issue.
She-Hulk
A playable She-Hulk was expected to launch in Marvel's Avengers in August 2022, to coincide with the premiere of the She-Hulk series on Disney+. The character was seemingly leaked by mentions within Avenger's game files and a tweet by the character's alleged voice actress. However, rumors began circulating in November that the character was delayed due to development issues.
She-Hulk was expected to operate similarly to Jane Foster's Mighty Thor, in that she would share some abilities with her male counterpart, and feature a few unique skills of her own. It is uncertain whether She-Hulk was set to launch alongside a mini-campaign, though fans hoped the character would play a significant role. The She-Hulk DLC for Marvel's Avengers is likely the most complete element that was abandoned by Crystal Dynamics' shuttering of the title, making it among the most significant losses for the game's fans.
Captain Marvel
Another character fans expected to arrive in Marvel's Avengers was Carol Danvers' Captain Marvel. The inclusion of the character, alongside other fan favorites, was seemingly confirmed by Twitter user @mmmmmmmmiller in a leaked DLC release order for Avengers. Ms. Marvel is a central character in the game's narrative, and many fans believed a moment between the two Marvels was inevitable.
Captain Marvel has quickly become a fan-favorite since her introduction to the MCU. With Danvers appearing in a post-credits scene for Disney+'s Ms. Marvel and news of the upcoming The Marvels movie, fans were ready to see the character debut in Marvel's Avengers as well. With no official announcement of Captain Marvel's debut in Marvel's Avengers prior to the announcement that the game would end, fans will never get the chance to see Crystal Dynamics' plans for the character.
War Machine
War Machine was another hero revealed by Avengers' leaked DLC release order. The character was considered a natural addition by fans of the title, as Iron Man debuted at launch and the character would require few alterations. War Machine's leak coincided with that of Captain Marvel, with whom he shares a romantic past, adding credence to the likelihood the two could launch together in a co-starring narrative.
War Machine would likely operate similarly to Tony Stark, with only minor tweaks to his model and animations. Beyond the differences in the characters' armor, War Machine would brandish modern weaponry, such as basic handguns and a heavy minigun attack. It is uncertain how close to completion the character was when development stopped.
Marvel's Avengers is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
