Highlights

  • MultiVersus returns this May with a diverse roster, pitting iconic characters like LeBron James against Superman in a wacky mash-up.
  • The Last of Us is connected to Warner Bros. through its HBO show, so it's possible that characters like Ellie will join MultiVersus.
  • Incorporating The Last of Us characters into MultiVersus may face challenges due to the stark contrast in tone and themes.

Popular Warner Bros. platform fighter MultiVersus is making its return this year after shutting down its open beta in 2023. With an official release coming this May, MultiVersus is positioned to deliver on its wacky mash-up concept, and there's a good chance that more characters, locations, and concepts from Warner Bros. properties will be added to the game over time.

Following the formula established by Super Smash Bros. back on the Nintendo 64, MultiVersus hones in on the ever-alluring premise of the mega-crossover, bringing characters from disparate, oftentimes notably distinct, franchises together. The initial selling point of the game, for many consumers, is its diverse roster of iconic characters: MultiVersus is the only game (for now) where players can pit LeBron James against Superman, or Velma against Black Adam. The game's roster will continue to grow, according to its developers, and many fans have characters like Harry Potter and Samurai Jack high on their wishlists. That said, there's room for other, stranger additions.

Super Smash Bros. 6 Might Want to Go for a Walk in MultiVersus' Shoes
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Super Smash Bros. 6 Might Want to Go for a Walk in MultiVersus' Shoes

For as much as MultiVersus owes to Super Smash Bros., a new Smash would benefit from trying its own take on the former's style of fighting.

Putting The Last of Us Characters in MultiVersus

MultiVersus's character roster is about as unique as it gets in the world of mash-up fighters. Sure, players can have Sonic go up against Ice Climbers in Smash, but MultiVersus features a real person, wielding a basketball as a weapon, as a playable character. Even just looking at the game's fictional playable characters, there is a great deal of thematic and narrative diversity, as characters like Arya Stark, a canonically vicious murderer guilty of many disturbing acts, are presented alongside the likes of Gizmo from Gremlins. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and for some players, this sort of stark contrast is part of what makes the MultiVersus experience novel and charming.

More MultiVersus characters are on the way, and it's possible that Warner Bros. may want to loop in another best-selling, ubiquitous franchise: The Last of Us. Although the IP itself isn't owned by Warner Bros., HBO is. So, much like Arya Stark and any other potential Game of Thrones characters, series icons like Ellie, Joel, or Abby could show up, perhaps aligning more with their HBO TV show renditions. At the same time, MultiVersus could draw from the games when it comes to how a character controls, with Ellie being faster and more ranged-focused, Abby being more of a tank, and so on.

The Last of Us Characters Could Appear in MultiVersus, But Maybe They Shouldn't

The Last of Us is a beloved franchise with dedicated fans, some of whom may like the idea of seeing their favorite characters in a wildly different context. However, this could turn out to be extremely awkward and tone-deaf, given the nature of The Last of Us, its bleak narrative, and its thematic framing, especially in Part 2. The Last of Us is a story about the horrors of violence and brutality, so placing its characters in a colorful, over-the-top brawler that celebrates cartoonish violence would be an odd choice, possibly coming across as cynical and out of touch.

Of course, it should be noted that there haven't been any reports of The Last of Us characters coming to MultiVersus, but it's not inconceivable, thanks to the IP's connection to WB. Additionally, bizarre crossovers like Dead Space's Isaac Clarke's Fortnite appearance may prove that these sorts of mash-up games aren't afraid of sacrificing tonal consistency at the altar of brand recognition. If Warner Bros. suspects, perhaps reasonably, that it can attract more MultiVersus players by using iconic characters like Joel or Ellie, then the crossover shouldn't be out of the question, regardless of narrative identity or thematic integrity.