There are several Smash clones out there, but MultiVersus was one of the more well-reviewed ones; so it was a complete surprise to fans that WB would be closing down the game by May.
The internet has been filled with all kinds of reactions from fans, but game director Tony Huynh has something to say for the more extreme players who are seemingly taking the shutdown too personally.
MultiVersus Director on Toxic Behavior
Following the game’s final season announcement, Hyunh posted a lengthy message on X (formerly Twitter) to talk about how grateful he is for the fans; but at the same time, he’s drawing a line on players threatening harm to the developers.
The director wrote, “I know that this is painful for everyone, and I know every member of PFG (Player First Games) feels it too, but I have to call this out, you’re entitled to what you say and think, but when there are threats to harm it’s crossing the line. I hope that you can take a step back and realize that this is an extremely sad time for the team. I am in deep mourning for the game. Nobody wanted this outcome and it wasn’t from lack of caring or effort.”
When the announcement of the game’s final season came out, the post was filled with all kinds of complaints from fans, and with the current online climate, it was no surprise that there would be some players who would go out and send death threats to the developers. Sadly, it’s become standard for any huge property that even slightly inconveniences fans.
The Final Season
While MultiVersus did have the promise of an endless well of IP to draw from, a lot of fans are disappointed that the game would end up closing before they could get to their favorite character. Hyunh does explain, “Character selection comes down to bunch of things including development time, listening to what the community wants, working with IP holders and approvals, if there is a cross-marketing opportunity available to support, and of course if the team is inspired to make the character. So a lot goes into to it.”
For now, the last two new characters that are coming to the game are Aquaman and Lola Bunny—which does seem kind of fitting for the final season since the game started out with Justice League members and Bugs Bunny.
Offline Mode Available
If it’s any consolation, MultiVersus will still be available to play offline, but it’s important that players download the latest version of the game and log in before the season officially closes on May 30.
Though offline mode may only have the items that players have earned throughout the game’s run, some have been hoping that the devs make all the DLC items available (or at least earnable) before they pull the plug on the game.
Hopefully, WB Games finds another way to milk their vast library of characters in the future.
MultiVersus is now available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 4|5. The game’s live service closes in May.