Summary
Announced back in November 2021,MultiVersuswas met with a great deal of intrigue upon its initial reveal. ThoughSuper Smash Bros.-like platform brawlers have been around for decades, in November 2021, it felt as though they were having a sort of resurgence, withNickelodeon All-Star Brawlreleasing just a month beforeMultiVersus' announcement. There was quite a bit of hype surroundingMultiVersus' Open BetaJuly 2022 release date, and while it made a great first impression, the game’s flaws eventually caused a steep decline inMultiVersus' playerbase.
Apparently always intended to be the plan,MultiVersus' Open Beta went offline in June 2023, with the developer promising a full release in early 2024.MultiVersushas a pretty steep uphill battle ahead of itself, and it’s going to have to do quite a bit to bring people back in, and do even more to keep them on board for the long haul. From new modes to new characters to a more user-friendly progression system and live-service approach,MultiVersusneeds to be doing everything it can when it returns this year, and that should include launching on Nintendo Switch day-one.
A Switch Release for MultiVersus Could Be Exactly What It Needs to Stand Out in 2024
The Nintendo Switch is Tailor-Made for MultiVersus' Local Play Modes
One of the biggest selling points of the Nintendo Switch since the moment its first trailer debuted has been the ability to play local multiplayer at all times, at the drop of a hat. Thanks to the console’s innovativedetachable Joy-Cons, Switch users can set up a local two-player game within seconds, and to add more players, users simply need to connect some additional Joy-Cons. The Switch is tailor-made for local multiplayer, and that would go hand-in-hand withMultiVersus.
Even in its Open Beta,MultiVersuslaunched with a handful of dedicated local play modes, just like any good fighting game should. From 1v1 fights to 2v2 team brawls and the game’s free-for-all mode,MultiVersushad plenty of local play modes to keep fans entertained, and, hopefully,MultiVersus' full release will include even more. For a console built around local co-op, it would just make sense forMultiVersusto come to the Nintendo Switch. While there might be concernsSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateis taking up all of theSwitch’s platform-fighter space, it’s been a while since that game came out, and fans might now be looking for something similar, but new.
MultiVersus Should Be Casting The Widest Net Possible
WhenMultiVersuswas first released, it experienced unprecedented success.MultiVersus' launch was the biggest for a fighting game on Steam, and it became the US PlayStation Store’s most downloaded game of July 2022. Within its first few months,MultiVersushad gained 20 million players, but it all came crumbling down at the start of 2023. In February 2023, it was widely reported thatMultiVersushad seen a monumental drop in active players, going from a day-one peak of 143,000 active players, to just below 1000.
IfMultiVersusis going to be a hit when it returns, it needs to pull out all the stops. While that should mainly encompass a wealth of new content and an overhauled progression system, it also means thatMultiVersusshould come to as many platforms as possible on launch in an attempt to bring in as many players as possible, and that definitely should include the Nintendo Switch.
MultiVersus
WHERE TO PLAY
CHARACTERS: Choose from Bugs Bunny, Batman, Arya Stark, Rick Sanchez, and many more. In MultiVersus, every star brings their unique moves, worlds and attitudes to fight. And as the roster expands, so does the spectacle — with new personalities and play styles turning up the heat in every battle.MAPS: Our maps turn legendary realms like the Batman’s Bat Cave, Jake and Finn’s Treefort, Game of Thrones’ Throne Room into epic battle grounds. And the best part? We’re adding new maps regularly, so the party never stops!MODES: Whether you’re seeking the intensity of 1v1, the frenzy of a 4-player mayhem, or team up for strategic 2v2 battles, we’ve got you covered. Plus, introducing an all new PvE mode, a thrilling realm of limitless combat possibilities designed for solo or co-op play.CROSS-PLATFORM: MultiVersus has full cross-play and cross-progression support across all platforms.
