Marvel’s Avengers, Crystal Dynamics’ live service take on the comic-book superhero squad, is being pulled from sale at the end of the month. With just under two weeks left before it’s delisted, the game’s devs have knocked its price down to less than the price of a coffee.
]]>We’ve just passed the middle of the month (and the year?), which means it’s time for another wave of Game Pass games to come. For starters, we have a tasty indie trio coming to the service today. Then to cap off July, one of the best platformers in recent memory Celeste rejoins the fun, while Marvel's Avengers waves goodbye.
]]>The end of support for Marvel's Avengers was announced in January, but wrapping up a live service game and doing it right is a gradual process. Yesterday saw the release of patch 2.8, its last content update, which made "nearly all" cosmetics free, converted in-game currency into resources, and handed out rewards as a thank you to players.
]]>Crystal Dynamics are ending support for Marvel's Avengers, their live service superhero game. That means it won't receive any further new content, its final balance patch will be released on March 31st, and all other support and the sale of the game will cease on September 30th. Players who already own the game at that point will be able to continue playing in single- and multiplayer, for at least a while.
]]>The developers of Marvel’s Avengers have removed the game’s design lead Brian Waggoner as a spokesperson after offensive tweets were brought to light. Waggoner had posted a racist comment on the social media platform in 2014, and an ableist one in 2010. Members of the Marvel’s Avengers community have uncovered and shared other examples of Waggoner’s behaviour online from before he joined Crystal Dynamics.
]]>At the end of a week in which publishers Square Enix publicly expressed disappointment with how Marvel's Avengers went down, the game has some good news: one of the most popular Marvelmen will swing in later this month, Spider-Man. Oh. But he's exclusive to the PlayStation version. Oh no. That's not feel-good news to lift spirits at all.
]]>Marvel's Avengers came to Xbox Game Pass at the end of September. A week later, Square Enix added paid, consumable XP boosters to its in-game store, to much predictable uproar from its players.
Today, Square Enix announced that they were removing the boosters, while apologising "for not responding sooner" to players' concerns.
]]>Ill-fated co-op superhero game Marvel's Avengers comes to Xbox Game Pass tomorrow. The live service action-RPG first launched in September last year to an overwhelmingly "meh" reaction from players, but if you were curious about it, at least now you don't need to pay full price to try it out.
]]>Earlier this week, Marvel’s Avengers shared a dope new animated short, titled Road to Wakanda: Children of T'Chaka, that shed light on T’Challa and Shuri’s childhood. It got me even more hyped for War For Wakanda, the upcoming expansion for Marvel's Avengers.
The short, illustrated by comic icon Alitha Martinez (Batgirl and World Of Wakanda), is told from the perspective of Wakandan general Okoye, and hints at some potential plot points for the expansion.
]]>Ever since Marvel’s Avengers came out in September last year, the game's player count has been falling faster than old Thanos can click his fingers. Last week, however, Square Enix announced All-Access weekend that allowed gamers to play the game in full for free, and finally, the player count is starting to rise again.
]]>Marvel's Avengers recently gave a longer look at its upcoming War For Wakanda expansion coming in August, but Square Enix have now updated their roadmap with additional plans for July's update. Mega Hives are going multiplayer and players will now be able to suit up as the same hero in multiplayer as well. No more quarreling over Thor's hammer, then.
]]>If you missed Square Enix's E3 2021 showcase this evening, worry not, as we've rounded up all the important news, trailers and PC announcements right here in handy list format. While not super heavy on big new exclusives (alas, still no news on FF16 or when Final Fantasy VII Remake might be leaving the console realm for PC sadly), but we did get to see the world premiere of Eidos Montreal's new Marvel Guardians Of The Galaxy game, as well as the first gameplay footage of Team Ninja's hotly rumoured Final Fantasy Origin game. Whether you need a recap or just plain missed it in all the E3 excitement, here's everything you need to know.
]]>Do you dare to dream? Square Enix announced that their E3 conference, Square Enix Presents, would take place on June 13th at 8:15pm BST/3:15pm EST/12:15pm PST. Alongside an update on Platinum Games Babylon's Fall and more on Life Is Strange: True Colors and the next Marvel's Avengers expansion, we can expect the "world premioere of a new game" from Eidos Montreal.
Eidos Montreal, if you don't know, are the studio previously responsible for Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
]]>Marvel's Avengers' Hawkeye expansion is only just out today, but developers Crystal Dynamics have immediately announced the next major expansion to come. Black Panther: War For Wakanda will bring Black Panther to the game later in 2021, and the first trailer sets up a fight against the villain Klaw.
]]>Marvel's Avengers seemed to come out to the mildest of shrugs from players, but there's still new DLC on the way in Operation: Hawkeye - Future Imperfect. Ahead of its arrival on March 18th, the developers have detailed some changes coming to the base game - including substantial reworks to how it dishes out XP and cosmetics. In brief: levelling is going to take longer.
]]>Now that Iron Lad, The Cap'n and all the other big-name members of Marvel's Avengers have gotten settled in with each other, it's time to add a new character to the mix-up. Crystal Dynamics' first post-launch hero is Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), not to be confused with Hawkeye (Clint Barton), whose incredible superpower is the ability to lodge a sharp stick between your eyes using nothing but a bigger stick and a piece of string.
]]>Square Enix have posted the financial results from their Digital Entertainment - HD Games division, and it's safe to say Marvel's Avengers hasn't been the cash flow hero they'd hoped for. From the six month period of April through the end of September 2020, the quarter of Marvel's Avengers release saw losses of ¥5bn (£36m).
]]>Hear ye hear ye, here's the top releases on Steam from the month of September. As ever, some big names like Marvel and Mafia are on the list, and so are some long-awaited favorites like Spelunky 2 and Serious Sam 4. More interesting though are the weird indie breakout games. Yup, Phasmophobia's on there and you can't stop me from talking about it.
]]>Marvel's Avengers has been out for over a month now, during which time the superhero service game has been bracing through some speedbumps. Since launch, Crystal Dynamics say they've been taking on feedback while solving bugs, matchmaking issues, and game stability. They've outlined some player-requested features and raid-style missions currently in the works, though the addition of Hawkeye Kate Bishop is getting pushed back. Oh, and they're handing out some freebies as a thanks for your patience.
]]>At last, these cape-wearing champs are assembling themselves for real. After an open beta in August and three days of early play for pre-orderers, Marvel's Avengers is actually, officially launched. You can now suit up as Kamala Khan and co to save the world from M.O.D.O.K's big baddie head.
]]>Superman and his Super Friends slip on their spandex for the launch of Marvel's Avengers on Friday (though pre-orderers already have access), then after that Square Enix plan to update the action-RPG with new characters and content in that 'live service' way. Last night's 'War Table' stream confirmed the first character coming after launch will be Kate Bishop, the other arrow-plinging hero known as Hawkeye. She's a decent character in the comics, having a fun double-act with the original Hawkeye - who I should stress isn't a wank like he is in the films. Anyway! Come meet Kate.
]]>The season of announcements for announcements continues with an Avengers announcement for more announcements. Marvel's Avengers is just around the corner in early September but hold your super horses they've got another War Table livestream for you before that. Crystal Dynamics' third announcements reel on September 1st will feature hot tips for starting with your most heroic foot forward and detail some more of their free content coming after A-Day.
]]>Earth's mightiest heroes today come crawling down your Internet pipe, offering everyone a free slice of Marvel's Avengers in an open beta weekend. The idea of a superhero game that's some sort of live service action-RPG with loot is a bit weird, so I'm curious. The beta start is staggered across the world, opening up at 9pm local time, so we here in the UK have a few hours to go but it is already live in easternmost parts of the world. You can preload the beta client while you wait.
]]>The PC Gaming Weekspot, RPS' weekly look at PC games news, returns this very night (right now, in fact, 6pm BST) for the RPS VidBuds to entertain you live and on your screens. This week Colm and Matthew will be taking a look at the Halo Infinite delay announced last week, new details on Dead Space developer Visceral Games' cancelled Star Wars game, Epic Games taking on Apple and Google over Fortnite, and more! All with interaction and input from you, the viewer, as you get involved in the chat.
]]>Crystal Dynamics' latest War Table video for upcoming Marvel's Avengers premiered today, during which they gave a look at what sounds like a pretty stacked beta. They go over all the many mission types you'll be able to play through prior to launch and gave a teaser for the first hero they plan to add to the crew when the game's properly out.
]]>Marvelous Ms Marvel will assemble the super friends in September, but you'll be able to go for a test flight a couple weeks earlier. Crystal Dynamics have announced the beta test dates for Marvel's Avengers. Before that, another War Table livestream is queued up for the end of July to give you another look at the super squad in action.
]]>Crystal Dynamics have rallied the reinforcements, mustered the muscle, oh and I suppose assembled the Avengers for a bunch of gameplay and trailers for Marvel's Avengers. They dig in to superhero-hating corporation AIM, big baddie M.O.D.O.K., and co-op play in the first of their War Table video presentations.
]]>We've heard hardly a peep from the Marvel's Avengers corner since Crystal Dynamics announced a delay earlier this year. They're not ready to unveil more just yet, but the Avengers are allegedly reassembling. The developers will be hosting a livestream on June 24th to tell us more.
]]>Over the break we had a chance to do some serious scientific study of this business we call games, and it turns out that games are actually good. 2020 in particular has a healthy mix of big budget bonanzas and smaller indie plates to suit everyone's discerning tastes. And, as you know, the RPS treehouse is the most discerning, so to make it easier for you we've got a big ol' list of the games we're most looking forwards to this year. It's traditional.
]]>Today, Crystal Dynamics revealed that Marvel's Avengers will be delayed by four months, while Square Enix announced that the Final Fantasy VII Remake's PS4 release date is delayed by a month (though the game isn't yet confirmed for PC, it seems likely after its year of PS4 exclusivity ends).
The intended release date for Marvel's Avengers was initially set for the 15th of May, but has now been pushed all the way back to the 4th of September.
]]>As we now know, the upcoming Marvel's Avengers is set in a time where the superhero team has been disbanded and it’s up to Kamala Khan (aka Ms. Marvel) to grab Thor, entice Iron Man, and unsulk the Hulk. Basically she’s reassembling the Avengers, trying to bring them together to fight off the evil organisation that's taken over in the vacuum the Avengers left behind. And when she does, you can add a few personal touches to each hero.
]]>So long, San Francisco. A new trailer for Marvel's Avengers premiered at New York Comic Con at the end of last week, finally taking us away from the Golden Gate's latest mishap. Instead, we've got new plot details, a lengthy time-skip and new leading lady Ms Marvel (AKA Kamala Khan) punching her way through an army of goons with those massive mitts of hers.
]]>Marvel’s Avengers is a rare-earth neodymium snark magnet. It’s based on the most recognisable heroes on Earth, but starring what looks like their stunt-doubles. Though it meant Nate got to do this, it’s also made everyone a bit wary of what’s coming down our game tubes.
I imagine that Crystal Dynamics felt the best way to get ahead of that is let everyone take an extensive look at the game, which we have below. It’s splashy, swoopy, and restless, but it also adds another element of questionable authenticity: the quips are bloody awful.
]]>Google held another one of their Stadia Connect conferences today, and this one was meant to be all about what games you'll be playing in the "scary" cloud come November. Sure enough, there were new Stadia games aplenty announced this evening, with the biggest addition being Cyberpunk 2077.
To help keep track of them all, here's a list of every Google Stadia game confirmed so far, as well as which games are coming at launch, which ones will be arriving a little bit later, and which games you'll only be able to play by subscribing to one of the special Stadia publisher subscriptions.
]]>Square Enix's Marvel's Avengers game was very clearly what the Square Enix conference of this year's E3 was building towards, and our expectations were finally fulfilled with an extended presentation on the upcoming story-driven action adventure title. If you can move yourself to look beyond the uncanny valley faces that makes the entire team look like a group of cosplayers rather than the real deal... Well, there's a fair amount to be excited about here. We'll break it all down in this here Marvel's Avengers game guide, with details on the game's release date, trailers, and story - and anything else we've gleaned so far from the reveal.
]]>We all remember A-day. The infamous day in US history when San Francisco came under attack by skull-faced bad dudes, and the Avengers showed up to stop them. The superheroes flew in to display their skills at bash ‘n’ dash combat (almost as if this was a demonstration for the press). There was Thor, Iron Man, and Black Widow, all fighting goons. It was exciting and explosive. But something was off about the Avengers that fateful day. They just didn’t seem... themselves.
I’m talking about the fairground ride faces of the recently revealed Marvel's Avengers. I asked creative director Noah Hughes of Crystal Dynamics if he thought people would be happy enough to see a Hulk that doesn’t look a jot like Mark Ruffalo. He said inspiration comes from “a breadth of Marvel content”, not just the movies.
“We’re always pursuing the truth of the subject matter,” he said.
]]>After so many years of the big screen being dominated by the Avengers as portrayed by Evans, Hemsworth and company, it’s great to see the limelight passed on to some less well-known interpretation of the famed superheroes. Namely, those daubed on the side of janky-looking ferris wheels which appear without warning on turd-strewn commons across the UK.
]]>Earth's most lucrative heroes will reassemble in May 2020 with Marvel's Avengers, Square Enix announced today, to kick off a story that'll unfold over several years of updates. Unlike everything else to do with Marvel's marvelous moneymakers, story additions with new places and characters will be free to all players. Most importantly, yes, it will let you play superheroes with your pals and duff up baddies together in co-op. Come watch the announcement trailer.
]]>Matt: This is it. The final blog down. Square Enix are about to tell us about what they're up to, and we've both reported to our liveblogging stations for the very last time. Both Cheerer and Jeerer have one more opportunity to don their respective masks of love and loathing, but who will take up each mantle?
Actually, forget I asked. Jetlag has snuck up on us both and filled our hearts with jeer, but I'm the one writing this intro so I get to bagsy it. Plus it's my turn anyway. Nuh-nuh.
]]>Trying to keep up with E3 2019 is a fool's errand, and the foaming river of content streaming down the internet's face doesn't always make it easier. So here's a round-up of every news story from the show we think matters to you, with links to our full stories (and bantful liveblogs) where relevant. We'll be updating this hourly, so keep coming back.
]]>Yesterday, Square Enix announced that they'd be announcing something today, as that's how marketing works now. Yesterday, Marvel also announced that they'd be announcing something today, but no-one knew if they meant a film, a comic, a TV series or that Ike Perlmutter had ordered that Captain America was henceforth to be depicted as an outspoken climate change denier.
Different companies announce different stuff on the same day all the time, but there was something even more needlessly vague than usual about these two, and so a few souls put two and two together and speculated that it could be same announcement - Square Enix publishing a Marvel game. Whaddaya know, true believers? They were right. Except it's games, plural. And both Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal are on the case.
]]>