Today marks exactly nine months since the release of MultiVersus, the replica of Super Smash Bros. starring Warner’s superstars. A date with a double meaning, since the game had been asking for a new batch of fighters, modes and content for a long time. In stead of, Player First Games has given us another kind of surprise: the game will be removed from stores in april and within 90 days access to online modes will be closed. Basically, the bulk of the game. Of course, promising that they will return in 2024.
Through an official statement, Tony Huynh Player First Games has set the end of the beta period for MultiVersuswhat plans will there be in the game until the online disconnection occurs (June 25, 2023), what will happen after those who have purchased content such as costumes and fighters and, most important of all, What are the future plans for the project?
The (temporary) closure of Multiversus: the how and the why
Let’s go in parts: the currently available version of MultiVersus It’s an open beta. A early access, if you prefer, in which it has essentially received the treatment of a free-to-play with its respective premium packages, unlockables, game currency with which to buy characters and costumes and so on. Once June 25 arrives, we will continue to have access to everything acquired, but It can only be played in training mode or in local games. Of course, with what we already have in property.
Although the normal thing in competitive games that come through early access is usually to jump to the final version without interruptions, we will have to wait until the first half of 2024 for MultiVersus return to normality and add the expected news. The not so bad news is that we do not progress and unlock the players they will not be reset.
We know this news may be disappointing, but rest assured, MultiVersus will be back. We’ll also make sure all your progress and content sticks around when MultiVersus returns next year, with a variety of new content, features, and modes.
The movement is complicated for the project, since both the incentives of the founders packs and the purchases obtained with in-game currency can only be used to train or play offline games. Although, we are not going to deny it, the true raison d’être of MultiVersusand its game approach, goes through the competitive online.
In fact, Huynh has specified that it will only be possible to access training and local games, so we do not expect the Arcade to leave the door open. Among other things, because the weekly season challenges They will no longer be updated with the arrival of April.
The reason for this has also been specified by Huynh: they have collected enough information throughout these nine months and will use it for the final version and its contents, which will arrive early next year, promising more modes, more content, and more characters.
The MultiVersus open beta has been an important learning opportunity and a stepping stone to the next phase of the game. There is still a lot of work to be done and we have a clearer vision of where we need to focus, specifically on the cadence of content for new characters, maps and modes to provide more ways to enjoy the game, along with improvements to the netcode and system. of pairing. We will also be reworking the progression system and looking at new ways for players to connect with friends in the game.
That said, there is an essential nuance to take into account, since if you had postponed downloading the game or had your eye on a specific character, the countdown begins to dedicate a few games to him: on April 4, 2023 it will be removed from all digital stores.
The key dates for this process
On the other hand, if you wanted to try this netcode rollback smash or purchase MultiVersus content, this is a last call to players:
- the gleamiumthe in-game currency, will be temporarily removed from digital stores and will be available for purchase starting April 4, 2023
- The Multiversus Beta it will be removed from digital stores on April 4, although it will be possible to continue playing with relative normality until June 25
- The Season 2 Battle Pass It will run until June 25.
- Finally, the MultiVersus open beta will close June 25th
- From here, Player First Games estimates that Multiversus will be available again during the first half of 2024.
As stated, though MultiVersus will be removed from all digital stores (PlayStation, Xbox and PC) everyone who has downloaded the game before April 4, 2023 will be able to continue playing and re-download MultiVersus, even after the beta closes. Of course, once again, we will have two options to enjoy the proprietary content: the training and local game.
That is, if you have bought a very expensive outfit for Wonder Woman, you will be able to train combos and play offline.
What happens to the money I have spent on MultiVersus?
From here a new type of question opens: the closure of the beta of MultiVersus It has caught us all by surprise, so it is normal that if we have acquired content or characters to play online we want to use them. Given this, on Warner’s FAQ page they have a very specific answer:
This announcement does not change the current refund policies or terms offered by the store(s) where the Founder’s Packs or Gleamium Packs were purchased. For more information, visit the customer support pages for PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and Epic Games.
Additionally, refunds are not available as a result of the closure of Open Beta. However, all previously earned or purchased progress and content will carry over when MultiVersus returns in early 2024.
Is about a movement that deserves to be reconsideredAt least: if someone has invested a certain amount of money in a Founder’s pack or in-game currency for a certain character, the proper thing is to offer something more than the possibility of playing locally with him or training on our own.
Especially when the Fundador Premium and Deluxe editions (the latter valued at 99.99 euros) They have already disappeared from digital stores.
MultiVersus started very strong, being one of the games of the summer and being crowned the best fighting game of 2022. But both the interest and the amount of news was in a severe decline past the equator of the year. The absence of new faces, despite the brutal initial rhythm, has had a lot to do with see in the process.
For its part, Player First Games is committed to offering transparency and regular updates on what will be the final version of MultiVersus. But, even with all the work they have been doing, they must make a special effort to restore the illusion and confidence of those who played and were excited about the best replacement for Super Smash Bros. that ever came out on a Nintendo console. .
And who knows? Maybe there is even a new possibility that we will see Bugs Bunny, Jake the Dog and Batman smack each other on Switch. As Michael Jordan has already learned, when Looney Tunes are part of the equation, nothing is impossible. For our part, we already know who we want to see when we return. Including Harry Potter.