Marvel fans have had plenty of content to enjoy in recent years. Alongside the constant supply of fresh comic books, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken the world by storm. For over a decade, fans have been given a massive number of movies with connected stories, with the long running franchise giving viewers a chance to really spend time with the characters. With Disney+ expanding the universe further through standout franchises like Loki, the MCU may only get bigger and better in the next few years.
Marvel Studios’ accomplishments with the MCU cannot be understated, as numerous characters and stories have been adapted perfectly on the big screen. As such, it makes sense for current and upcoming Marvel games to try to replicate that success. This can be done in two ways, and while one could prove significantly easier than the other, both strategies could result in a proper Marvel Games Universe.
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The first thing that developers should strive to do with their respective Marvel games is to keep the voice cast constant. It is hard to imagine the MCU having the impact that it did if Tony Stark were recast every few films. The fact that Robert Downey Jr.’s version of the character was kept around from the beginning of the Infinity Saga to its finale made a huge difference, as he became the quintessential Iron Man in the eyes of many fans. Moviegoers were able to grow attached to one specific version of the hero, watching the character develop for years.
Even if Marvel games are not ready to make the leap to a connected universe just yet, keeping the same actors involved would go a long way to keeping fans invested. For example, it is hard to imagine a video game version of Spider-Man that comes close to Insomniac’s take on the wall-crawler. A huge part of what makes him great is Yuri Lowenthal’s performance, with the actor nailing Peter Parker’s personality. As such, seeing him reprise the role in Marvel’s Avengers’ Spider-Man DLC would be amazing, even if it is technically a different version of the character. Likewise, Marvel’s Avengers’ take on Bruce Banner is excellent, so having his Hulk show up again would be welcome.
Still, while keeping the actors involved would allow things to feel more loosely connected, it would be a small step toward a bigger objective. To truly replicate the MCU’s success, a Marvel Games Universe needs to be established, with different Marvel games crossing over with one another. Square Enix could start this connected universe through Guardians of the Galaxy, setting up a proper crossover with Marvel’s Avengers, its other Marvel game. If done correctly, other developers could be interested in joining the connected universe.
What makes the MCU so spectacular is not just the impressive continuity and character interactions, but the fact that every movie was building to something bigger. Originally, this was Thanos, with a 23-movie story arc leading to an unforgettable final fight. Now, the MCU is moving on to Kang and the Multiverse, which has the potential to be even bigger. A Marvel games universe would need that payoff, with all the video game versions of the characters coming together to face a massive threat like Galactus. NetherRealm’s rumored Marvel fighting game would be a perfect example of how to do a payoff project, as it could include the different versions of the heroes without a need to work in every game’s unique mechanics.
Admittedly, a connected universe is a pipe dream. Ed Boon’s recent comments about Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat crossing over is a good example of why this is unlikely, as there is plenty of red tape that comes with two publishers working together. Things would only get more complicated with several developers and publishers needing to work toward the same end goal, as constant communication would be needed to tell a connected story. An endeavor of that scale would be unprecedented in the video game industry, and because of that, it will likely never happen. Still, it is hard not to think of how amazing a Marvel Games Universe could be.
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