The future of Marvel's Avengers remains a tenuous thing. The popularity and success of Marvel's Avengers have always brought into question whether support for the live service game would last particularly long. If that wasn't enough, Square Enix sold Marvel's Avengers developer Crystal Dynamics to Embracer Group earlier this year with a planned closing date this summer. Despite that, DLC continues to roll out for Marvel's Avengers, and the next major character may have just leaked.Twitter leaker mmmmmmmmiller, who has been incredibly reliable for past Marvel's Avengers leaks, shared the news on Tuesday. It was straight to the point with Miller, who said explicitly, "Bucky Barnes is the next playable character coming to Marvel's Avengers." Attached to the post is a piece of Marvel's Avengers art with the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Bucky Barnes photoshopped across the front. It seems that the Winter Soldier, Captain America's World War 2 sidekick, will be joining the roster next.Those who follow Marvel's Avengers news won't be hugely surprised by the revelation that Bucky Barnes will be joining the roster. Several characters planned for Marvel's Avengers have been leaked since the game launched, including She-Hulk, War Machine, Captain Marvel, and many more in a lesser capacity. The Winter Soldier has been a common name found on these leaks of upcoming DLC characters. There are even voice lines featuring elevator conversations with Bucky Barnes, making clear that he's always been a DLC character coming sooner, rather than later.
Another big question some Marvel's Avengers fans will be asking is where She-Hulk has gone, as she's long been rumored to be the next DLC character released. Miller was also asked this on Twitter, but he doesn't have a clear answer on this subject. He says that if it were up to him, She-Hulk would "already be out by now." That could mean that she's being held back for undisclosed reasons. With She-Hulk's TV show releasing in August, her delay is mysterious.
The situation is understandably frustrating for Marvel's Avengers players. Three DLC characters were released for Marvel's Avengers in 2021: Hawkeye, Black Panther, and Spider-Man. In 2022, however, there's only Jane Foster, Mighty Thor. Now it sounds like She-Hulk might be losing her spot to Bucky Barnes, though Marvel's Avengers fans will be hoping that either of them arrives in 2022. It's a challenging situation.
Even with today's leak from Miller, what's next for Marvel's Avengers' future is shrouded in fog. It's entirely possible that plans change between now and Bucky Barnes' release, if that's truly Crystal Dynamics' plan.
Marvel's Avengers is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.