Following a few short delays, Marvel's Avengers finally released its first major DLC expansion in the form of the Kate Bishop DLC, entitled Taking A.I.M. Not only does the Marvel's Avengers Kate Bishop DLC add the Young Avenger as a playable hero, it also features some brand new story content set after the events of the base game's campaign. Those curious as to what happens in the Kate Bishop DLC and how it sets up for future events for Marvel's Avengers should read on, but those who want to play through it themselves should be weary of SPOILERS.
After the events of A-Day, it seems as though both Hawkeye and Kate Bishop went missing, with the surviving Avengers assuming they were dead. The Avengers are asked by SHIELD's Maria Hill to investigate the appearance of Tachyon Rifts, which are essentially anomalies that mess with time and space. Upon arriving, the Avengers discover some AIM soldiers have already been taken out, and they soon discover that it was Kate Bishop's doing.
After some prodding, Kate agrees to rejoin the Avengers. It seems as though she and Hawkeye had actually attempted to get in contact with the Avengers after A-Day, but that their pleas were ignored by Iron Man as he felt that those involved in the incident were "poison" and he didn't want to get the duo in trouble. Regardless, Kate teams up with her former allies to track down AIM scientist Dr. Lyle Getz.
Working with the Avengers, Kate is able to defeat Getz, even after he uses a mech to try to fight the Avengers. With Getz imprisoned, the Avengers learn that AIM Scientist Supreme Monia Rappacini is the person behind the Tachyon Rifts. And not only that, but Rappacini has taken a special interest in both Kate Bishop and Hawkeye, evidently impressed by their natural talents.
The team break into another AIM facility and discover how Rappacini is causing the Tachyon Rifts. Apparently, Rappacini is using time travel to help her future self build a mysterious weapon. And in one of the DLC's big twists, it is revealed that she has Hawkeye's help doing it. Following this shocking revelation, the team enlists the help of Hank Pym to create a new time travel device that will allow them to stop Rappacini's meddling and rescue Hawkeye.
The next big twist is then revealed. Hawkeye has been working with AIM by his own choice, and not only that, but it was Nick Fury's idea to do so. Evidently, the idea is to work together with AIM to build a powerful weapon that will eventually help Earth against an invasion that will take place at some point in the future. Another boss fight against a robotic enemy takes place, though future Hawkeye is able to escape from the future back to the present and destroy the time travel device.
Back in the present, Hawkeye is able to provide some more answers and better explain to them exactly what is going on. Evidently, the Kree invades Earth at some point in the future, and future Rappacini was working on a weapon that could be used to fight back against them. Unfortunately, Rappacini was unable to complete the weapon before it was finished, and so the time travel was set up so that her past self could get a head start on the project.
Not long after Hawkeye reveals this information, it's revealed that the time-traveling has had a hugely adverse effect on his health, and he is left bed-ridden. This leaves Marvel's Avengers with a couple of big plot threads to explore in future expansions. For one, it seems as though the Kree invasion will be the next major storyline for the game, perhaps what the Avengers after-credits scene was hinting at. And secondly, it seems as though the Avengers will have to figure out some way to rescue Hawkeye before it's too late.
Answers as to exactly how this will go down will come to light at some point in 2021. Next year, Marvel's Avengers will be adding Hawkeye to the roster properly with his Future Imperfect DLC. Presumably, this Marvel's Avengers expansion will fix Hawkeye's health issues so that he can become a functioning member of the team and help prepare everyone for the incoming Kree invasion and any additional time travel shenanigans that may follow.
Meanwhile, 2021 has some other Marvel's Avengers expansions in the works as well, and it will be interesting to see how they tie into the overarching narrative. This will include a Black Panther expansion, as well as an expansion starring Spider-Man. However, the Marvel's Avengers Spider-Man DLC is exclusive to PlayStation consoles, so fans shouldn't expect it to have that much of an impact on the ongoing storyline. At least, definitely not as much of an impact as the Kate Bishop DLC.
Marvel's Avengers is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions also in development.