Fans of Marvel's Avengers are criticizing the game online after developer Crystal Dynamics released its most expensive DLC pack yet. The news came prior to the announcement that Marvel's Avengers would be winding down post-launch support, leaving many players feeling ripped off and betrayed by the studio.
The overall failure of Marvel's Avengers was a surprise, as it was highly anticipated prior to its release in 2020. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time, and players expected the game to be a base for superhero stories for many years to come. A lukewarm response to its initial release has left the game in a constant battle to win back fans, leaving it in the position it's in today.
The "MCU Outfit Pack" released by the developer brings 10 costumes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Marvel's Avengers and is the most expensive DLC pack in the game's short history at $80. Just days after the DLC's release, Crystal Dynamics announced the end of post-game support for Marvel's Avengers, with all previous cosmetics free to all players from March 31, 2023. Much of the past DLC for the game has been cosmetic, despite the strong player desire for additional gameplay content to expand the game's lifespan.
Players in the thread were quick to raise their concerns about the move, with Redditor The_Sterex saying "Yeah this can't be defended. Imagine buying this bundle only to be told a few days later that all cosmetics are free after March." Player frustration is understandable, though many in the thread struggled to sympathize with those who had purchased the pack, citing a consistent pattern of behavior from the developer over the years. It remains to be seen how Crystal Dynamics will handle the situation. Refunds for broken games like Cyberpunk 2077 have been seen in the past, although refunds for poorly timed DLC are almost unheard of.
The move could be seen as a final cynical cash grab from the developers. In the past, Crystal Dynamics has been criticized for Marvel's Avengers pay-to-win XP boosts, so it would remain consistent with their business strategy for the game. Despite the ending of post-launch support, players will still be able to play both single and multiplayer, and it's possible that the free cosmetics could draw in more players who are yet to experience Marvel's Avengers.
Marvel’s Avengers is available on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.