Multi-Ple mistakes were made
MultiVersus was always a risky venture. I mean, so many Smash-likes have risen and died since the brawler that started it all(er) came out on the Nintendo 64: but if you’re going to shove Batman, Superman, Shaggy Rogers, Game of Thrones (?!), Tom and Jerry, and more into the same game, you better back it up with quality and support. Oops!
As we found out yesterday rather unceremoniously, MultiVersus is going on ice for the time being. Sounds vague doesn’t it? Well, it definitely is a weird situation.
When a live service game ends, the very first thing I look into (even before the final service date) is whether or not the player base is getting refunds. When a game (or service) catastrophically fails, the answer is usually yes. But for many AAA publishers, you get the classic “hey we gave it a go, you agreed to the TOS” response.
MultiVersus is doing things a little differently. Here’s what they shared on their official site:
“This announcement does not change any current refund policies or terms offered by the storefront(s) from which Founder’s Packs or Gleamium bundles were purchased. For more information, please visit the customer support pages for PlayStation, Xbox, Steam and Epic Games. Additionally, refunds are not available as a result of the Open Beta closure. However, all progress and previously earned or purchased content will carry over when MultiVersus returns in early 2024.”
Oh good, so it’ll carry over “when” the game returns: no reason to doubt that statement in 2023.
When will MultiVersus come back, and will it actually come out in 2024?
With all of the troubles befalling WB and all its subsidiaries at the moment: who knows?! Black Adam and Shazam 2 just bombed at the box office, and the DC cinematic universe is in shambles as James Gunn attempts to rebuild it, seemingly using box office receipts as threats for who gets to come back. That’s not even counting the issues with any number of WB properties currently under the MultiVersus umbrella: a certain scientific duo included.
It’s a risky move to tell its player base “trust us to come back in nearly a year,” but it’s the path they’ve chosen nonetheless. Hopefully this thing actually comes out, or if it’s canceled, refunds are issued then.
