It is no secret that Marvel’s Avengers is far from what Marvel fans had come to expect, and the playerbase quickly dropped. Since then, Crystal Dynamics has been steadily adding to the game in an attempt to pull fans back in and keep the game alive. Through post-launch updates, Crystal Dynamics added Kate Bishop, Hawkeye, Black Panther, and Spider-man to the roster of heroes, but Jane Foster is the first time the developers seem to be following a Marvel Cinematic Universe hype train, which might be the best idea Crystal Dynamics has attempted yet.
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Marvel’s Avengers is Disconnected from the MCU
When Marvel’s Avengers was first shown off, there was already skepticism. The models of the Avengers looked like knock-off MCU characters, and the story was original. Instead of hopping on the success of the films, Crystal Dynamics chose to completely disconnect itself from the franchise, and that allowed it to tell its own tale using the characters. It told the story through the lens of Kamala Khan, who has yet to see her MCU debut.
However, the game itself was not received well on launch, and it was plagued with a multitude of bugs and glitches. Players also felt like the gameplay was uninspired, and that the choice to make it a live-service title was odd. Many appreciated the story, but the rest of the game felt very lackluster.
The heroes that Crystal Dynamics chose to release have all been disconnected from MCU projects. A unique version of Kate Bishop released a year before she made her debut in the MCU. After her came Hawkeye, and then Crystal Dynamics released the large-scale War for Wakanda expansion that added Black Panther, who has become a household name thanks to the MCU but was released nowhere near a Black Panther-centered project. Most recently, the developer released Spider-man for PlayStation users only, a decision that was very controversial.
Marvel’s Avengers Has Had Increasing Connections to the MCU
Crystal Dynamics chose to release purchasable skins for various heroes after launch. While some were inspired by comic book stories, many of the skins have been inspired by the MCU. Players can fight using Black Panther’s Captain America: Civil War outfit, they can fly through the skies with Iron Man’s Iron Man 3 Mark 47 suit, or they can swing through the streets with Spider-man’s Spider-Man: Homecoming costume. They can also get their hands on skins based on newer MCU projects like Hawkeye and Black Widow.
Along with the purchasable MCU skins, Crystal Dynamics has held various in-game events coinciding with MCU projects. These events have mostly been a set of activities that would result in players earning character-specific nameplates, like the Red Room Takeover around Black Widow. While sone fans have felt these events are lackluster, especially the nameplate ones, they have given MCU fans a reason to open Marvel’s Avengers. Now, the addition of Jane Foster is one of the largest connections to the MCU so far.
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Jane Foster: The Mighty Thor May Be a Sign of What is to Come
As far as players know, Foster’s Thor will feel almost exactly the same as the current playable Thor. Crystal Dynamics has said she will receive unique abilities, but the majority of her moves will be the same. While the additions of Hawkeye and Kate Bishop felt very similar, Crystal Dynamics did enough to differentiate the two, so it remains to be seen if Crystal will do the same with Jane Foster.
Later this year, Jane Foster will be making her MCU debut as Thor in Thor: Love & Thunder. The announcement that Jane Foster would be coming to Marvel’s Avengers happened a day after the first trailer for Thor: Love & Thunder, which is likely not a coincidence.
While some players logged in to check out the previous MCU tie-in events, a lot of players chose not to. Now, Crystal Dynamics is going to be releasing a hero that has not had a big video game appearance yet alongside her MCU debut. Players will be able to go watch Thor: Love & Thunder and then head home and play as Jane Foster. Instead of grinding for a cosmetic, they will be able to fight villains as the character. This is a huge step up from previous MCU content, and it may give MCU fans a reason to check out the game again.
Crystal Dynamics does not need to stop there, as it could add many MCU related heroes using the current in-game roster. Before What If season 2, Crystal Dynamics could release Captain Carter as an alternate version of Captain America. When She-Hulk rolls around, Crystal could respond by making a variation of the Hulk. When Ironheart or Armor Wars releases, Crystal could take Iron Man and make versions for Riri Willaims or Rhodey.
Time will tell if the addition of Jane Foster as Thor will help Marvel’s Avengers, or if people have chosen to leave it behind. If it is successful, Crystal Dynamics has a whole host of upcoming MCU projects that it could craft characters around, giving MCU fans something to play.
Marvel’s Avengers is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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