Marvel’s Avengers is one of the most eagerly awaited new games of 2020. It is being developed by Crystal Dynamics together with Eidos-Montréal, and will be published by Square Enix. The trailers have been out for a while now, but when will it be released and what can we expect from it?
The Details to Date
The original release date for the game was mid-May, but this was moved back to September 4 giving the developers more time to work on it. It is now expected to come out for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Stadia.
The impressive graphics mean that it looks like being a good game to try if you get one of the new Acer gaming laptops that was announced recently. Upgraded versions of the game will be brought out for the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 with enhanced graphics, once these consoles are available on the markets.
Characters include Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Ms. Marvel, as well their alter-egos where appropriate. One of the stand-out features is the online co-op mode. This lets players bring together their own team of superheroes. It is a third-person action-adventure title that can also be played offline in single-player mode. As the player progresses, the character’s abilities and costumes can be upgraded and customized so that you can choose your favorite iconic look.
The game’s story starts with A-Day, however, when a tragic event occurs the superheroes are blamed for what happened and subsequently disbands. The team is brought back together to try and save the planet from the plans of A.I.M., with MODOK, Taskmaster, and the Abomination among the game’s villains. There will be set missions, with no open world element to the gameplay.
How the Trailers Have Been Received
A trailer for this game was released on YouTube way back at the start of 2017, when it was going by the title of The Avengers Project. The next glimpse we got of it was when a full trailer was shown at E3 2019 in Los Angeles. This let us see some of the in-game footage and details of the characters, while attendees got to try a playable demo.
The demo showed the full-blooded opening sequence on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, as Taskmaster produces the attack that causes the superhero team to disband in disgrace. It also showed the different combat styles employed by each of the game’s playable characters. The trailers have been generally well-received and have helped to build up the sense of anticipation for the final game.
It is said to be a “multi-year, multi-partnership,” which will provide a “universe gamers can play in for years to come.” It appears that players will be able to receive updates over time, although it has been confirmed by Crystal Dynamics that no loot boxes or pay-to-win features are included.
The Current Popularity of Superheroes
This game comes out at a good time, as superheroes are currently as popular as they have ever been. The Black Widow movie is lined up for release by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures later in 2020, with several other films in the genres due in the next year or so.
In 2019, the highest-grossing movie was Avengers: Endgame, which became the biggest-earning movie of all time by grossing over US$2.7 billion on a worldwide basis. Captain Marvel, Joker, and Spider-Man: Far from Home were all in the list of the year’s top ten films too.
The popularity of superheroes isn’t just limited to movies and video games. It can also be seen in the spin-offs and merchandising. This new game will be preceded by two books from Titan Books that set the scene. The Extinction Key and The Art of the Game will be available in the run-up to the game’s release.
Some of the most famous superheroes also appear in other types of games, such as online casino slots. A look at the current casino games reveals free slots like Super Kids and Legend of Loki.
Naturally, the superhero genre is not just dominated by Marvel Comics but also DC Comics, and there are offerings such as Batman Begins and Justice League by Playtech, as well as Wonder Woman Bullets and Bracelets by Bally. It seems that we cannot underestimate the cultural impact that superheroes have had throughout the international entertainment industry.
There is a huge range of merchandise for sale online relating to these characters, as well as gadgets like lamps and watches. Ranging from t-shirts and hoodies to hats and action figures this is a market that lets fans of these heroes show their love of their favorite character in different ways.
It seems clear that 2020 is going to be another great year for superhero franchises. This game is likely to be one of the highlights but it will be far from the only memorable superhero moment of 2020.
Images: Square Enix.
