Why Marvel vs. Capcom Fans Are Flocking Back to The Game

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As a long-time fan of the Marvel vs Capcom series and a game developer myself, I must say that this story is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s not every day you see a game that was once considered a failure given a second chance through the power of community and passion.

2024 has undoubtedly been a fantastic year for Marvel vs. Capcom enthusiasts, marking a significant milestone as the entire Marvel vs. Capcom series, including the iconic Punisher arcade brawler, becomes accessible on PC and contemporary gaming platforms via the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. Moreover, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, though not part of the collection, continues to garner attention following its appearance as EVO 2023’s inaugural classic game tournament and with numerous character and gameplay modification projects still thriving.

As a die-hard movie buff, I can confidently say that the year 2024 stood out as Marvel vs. Capcom’s most bustling season yet, and it was none other than the game’s controversial title, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, that took the crown. Debuting on PC, PS4, and Xbox One on September 19, 2017, this game initially faced a wave of criticism from fans before and after its release. Initial aspirations for it to live up to its “Infinite” label through continuous support quickly faded, with the number of concurrent Steam players barely reaching 100 after merely five months.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite Never Got The Chance To Shine

As evidenced by its Steam numbers, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite was not a popular game, and the reasons why are numerous. Pre-release, fan outrage began with the removal of MvC’s iconic X-Men and Fantastic Four fighters. Nowadays, people blame the incomplete Fox merger with Disney as the motive, but that knowledge came too late. MvCI’s general roster was considered inferior to MvC2 and UMvC3’s, and even its returning fighters looked worse due to an art style shift and budget constraints. At least the game’s rollback netcode worked despite lacking crossplay, but that wasn’t enough to stop it from being squashed by another tag fighter, Dragon Ball FighterZ, in early 2018.

2024 Marked Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite’s Turning Point

Despite its flaws, Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite (MvCI) managed to amass a dedicated fanbase, primarily due to its flexible 2v2 gameplay and reliable online functionality. Among these fans, none were more vocal or influential than Maximilian Miles Christiansen, who is commonly known as Maximilian Dood. At launch, he was subjected to criticism for defending MvCI while also offering thoughtful suggestions, but given his role as a versatile streamer, he couldn’t afford to spend too much time on the game. However, his commitment to the title never waned, and in early 2024, an advancement in the modding scene for MvCI inspired Max to gather approximately 40 developers to produce a free mod designed to rejuvenate Marvel Infinite.

Infinite & Beyond is Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite’s Second Chance

Eight months down the line, my favorite game – Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite & Beyond – finally dropped on December 20, 2024. Over the weekend, it saw a staggering number of 1322 players simultaneously enjoying its awesomeness, making it just shy of its second-highest monthly peak on Steam. The Capcom Holiday Deals event with an 80% discount on both the game and its Deluxe Edition certainly helped boost sales. However, I believe that’s not what entirely brought this controversial title back to almost half of its all-time player peak of 3603, which it reached on September 20, 2017. Despite the light changes in content, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite & Beyond feels like the game Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite always should have been for me.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite & Beyond’s Changes, Explained

The most significant mistake made in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite was undeniably its poor presentation, leading to a substantial portion of Beyond’s development being dedicated to improving the soundtrack, menus, visuals, DLC, story, and Arcade Mode assets. Gameplay enhancements will primarily benefit competitive players, but all can appreciate the new abilities added to Thanos after completing the Infinity Gauntlet. The offline-only Cross Frenzy, Single Cross Frenzy, and Cross Fever modes offer casual gaming enjoyment, with Cross Fever even mimicking the cooperative tagging from 2XKO. It’s evident that Max and the team’s dedicated work on Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite has been worth the investment, as its Steam player count continues to be significantly higher than usual.

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2024-12-24 20:24