Despite War For Wakanda being a step in the right direction for Marvel’s Avengers late last year, the game has stumbled once again. Not only did the PlayStation exclusive Spider-Man hero catch some flak for controlling much worse than the one in Insomniac’s games, but the promised roadmap for early 2022 is nowhere to be seen going into May. Instead of dropping the next roadmap for Marvel’s Avengers, Crystal Dynamics has revealed the content that is coming in the immediate future.
Alongside quality-of-life improvements, Jane Foster Thor is confirmed to be the next hero coming to the game, and she will likely drop around the time that Thor: Love and Thunder releases in theaters. While it is great to see Crystal Dynamics fully embracing the MCU to try to catch the wave of excitement around those films, a crossover with Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness had far more potential than the one for Thor: Love and Thunder.
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness Content Could Have Dropped Sooner
While there have been a few Marvel’s Avengers’ content droughts since it released, the game has never felt more barren than it does right now. Since Spider-Man dropped, content has been limited to adjustments like the War Table rework and additional MCU skins. While quality-of-life improvements are needed, and fresh cosmetics are always welcome, these changes and outfits are irrelevant when there is nothing new to do when using them.
A major tie-in with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would have instantly helped solve this noticeable content problem. With the move set to release on May 6, content could have come to the game far sooner than Thor: Love and Thunder’s July 8 release window. Instead, Marvel’s Avengers players will have to wait an extra two months for some major content, meaning it will be harder to win them back once said content is finally added.
While a nameplate based on the upcoming Doctor Strange film could possibly come, a small addition like that would feel like a massive misfire on Crystal Dynamics’ part. Hype for Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness is ridiculously high, and adding content to the game shortly before the movie’s release could have been a game changer. While it may not have been enough to fully revive the game, players wanting more Doctor Strange before and after they watch the film would have a AAA title to go to.
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness Content Could Have Added Two Unique Heroes
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness will surely feature some huge Marvel cameos, but the focus is clearly on The Sorcerer Supreme and Scarlet Witch. Both characters have interesting abilities that would function differently from everything else that is currently in Marvel’s Avengers, so the magic-based heroes absolutely could have gotten some more eyes on the game if they were added.
Doctor Strange could have plenty of fun moves, such as the ability to create portals and teleport teammates like Hawkeye to unique vantage points. The Cloak of Levitation could not only be used to help Doctor Strange fly, but it also could have served as a way to distract and tie up enemies. Strange could cast a number of different spells, making him a dangerous ranged fighter, while the ability to conjure up weapons would give him some melee options, too.
As for Scarlet Witch, leaning into her reality warping could prove to be enjoyable. Allowing her to transform enemies into weaker foes would be an interesting skill, even if it lasts for a short amount of time. For instance, temporarily transforming an Adaptoid into a basic AIM foe could give gamers a chance to beat the enemy down, lowering its health drastically before it changes back to its original form. Chaos magic for ranged attacks could work well, and a leech ability on Wanda’s melee attacks that allows her to heal herself could be interesting.
Why A Thor: Love and Thunder Tie-In is Less Exciting For Marvel’s Avengers Fans
Either Scarlet Witch or Doctor Strange would have added some brand-new mechanics and status effects to the game, and Crystal Dynamics would not have needed to stop there. New, magic-wielding enemies could have been added, improving the game in the same way that the Klaw mercenaries did in War for Wakanda. Further, the Multiverse could have been leaned into to resemble the movie more closely, letting players battle Superior Iron Man and Hydra Captain Americs. With these assets already being in the game, crafting boss fights based on the skins could have worked well and saved resources.
Unfortunately, a Thor: Love and Thunder tie-in just seems a lot less appealing than the alternative. Unless the Jane Foster update takes players to Asgard and allows them to battle enemies like Loki, it is hard to get excited about the DLC. After all, Jane Foster is yet another echo fighter. While it is true that Hawkeye and Kate Bishop play quite differently, having two Hawkeyes when so many other heroes could be added is a bit of a bummer. With She-Hulk also leaked and likely coming out around the time the Disney+ series drops, yet another echo fighter could be on the way after Jane. With heroes like Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, Vision, and Ant-Man not yet available, it is a bit of a shame to see so many similar heroes making up the roster.
While it would be great to see Asgard and villains from Thor’s rogues gallery, there is no telling if Jane Foster will bring a proper Operation or a hero event with basic challenges like Spider-Man’s DLC. Based on the wording in her announcement, the latter seems more likely, which will only add to the community’s disappointment. Even the best possible Jane Foster update will feel less interesting to play due to the original Thor already being present in the game.
A Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness tie-in could have added Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, a Sanctum Sanctorum hub, magic-based enemies, and so much more. It also could have brought unique content to the game sooner, which is what Marvel’s Avengers desperately needs right now. The game needs more missions, enemies, and bosses as opposed to fresh heroes - especially when those extra heroes are so similar to the existing ones.
Marvel’s Avengers is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.