It has only been six months since a new project was announced: an AAA MMORPG set in the Marvel universe. But already, the superhero dream has been dashed – instead, the money is being funneled into other projects.
What was this project supposed to be? The Marvel MMORPG was being developed by the creators of DC Universe Online, a kind of competing venture.
Project leader Jack Emmet has apparently been trying to launch a Marvel MMORPG since 2006. But just like the “first attempt” – “Marvel Universe Online” – this new MMORPG will also not come to fruition.
After the holding company behind the project, Enad Global 7, announced new projects in November and this Marvel project as well also, the whole project is now already finished.
Marvel resources are to be redirected to other projects – including LOTRO and DCUO
This is why the game is not happening: As EG7 announced in a press release, it was decided to cease the further development of the Marvel project.
According to EG7, several factors played into this decision: They reassessed the risks of development and the extent of the investment, and then decided to shift priorities.
Over the next three years, EG7 had planned to invest around 47 million euros in the Marvel project. This sum will now be redirected to other projects within the group.
Interestingly, this includes not only DC Universe Online but also the Lord of the Rings MMO “Lord of the Rings Online.” It has recently received a comprehensive update and now offers significantly more F2P options compared to before.
Moreover, they want to continue working on their own original IPs.
What players are saying: The development is already being discussed in the “Games” subreddit.
- “The only reason I can think of is that the licensing fees were too high, and they didn’t expect to break even,” guesses user Vichnaiev (via reddit).
- “Damn. DCUO was one of my favorite games, and I was looking forward to diving into the Marvel game with old friends,” comments another user (via reddit).
Overall, players are surprised that the game is suddenly disappearing from the scene, especially since it hasn’t even truly launched yet.
When it comes to Marvel, there are now plenty of alternatives, even if the MMO front looks rather bleak. For example, Spider-Man players on PlayStation are always worth keeping an eye on, and Wolverine is also set to receive its own game soon.
However, it also happens that players are fed up with superheroes. This is the case, for instance, with some Fortnite fans who no longer want any Marvel crossovers.
