NetherRealm, the studio behind Mortal Kombat, has already proven itself adept at taking comic properties and adapting them into fighting games with the Injustice series. The gameplay speaks for itself, and the story penned for the original spawned a comic series that's still one of DC's most popular. With a new rumor that the Mortal Kombat developer is working on a Marvel fighting game, many fans are already salivating at the concept. However, another game that was rumored to be in development might end up a casualty of a NetherRealm-crafted Marvel fighting game; Marvel vs. Capcom 4.
The Marvel vs. Capcom series was, for a long time, the premiere way for Marvel and fighting game fans to blend interests. Known for fast-paced combat and insane, screen-filling powers, the series became a fighting game staple. The series inception started way back with Street Fighter vs. X-Men, after Capcom had created the SNES-era Marvel video games. Back then, Marvel was nearly bankrupt and had little input on the games based on those licenses. Now Marvel stands as one of entertainment's juggernauts. Many fighting game fans consider MvC the golden series of crossover fighters, but this could be bad news for the rumored Marvel vs. Capcom 4.
Marvel's Approach May Not Allow a NetherRealm and Capcom Fighting Game to Coexist
Rumors about a NetherRealm-developed Marvel game have been reignited recently, but the idea has been talked about for a couple years now. After an interview with Ed Boon revealed his excitement to work on such a title, and a cagey response to having been in talks with Marvel, fans have run with speculation. Injustice fans already know that NetherRealm could handle the property well. However, many fans of the Marvel vs. Capcom series worry that it would cement the end of a beloved franchise after the lackluster reception of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.
Marvel's game division has become less hands-on with developers since Infinite's release, but it might be hard to imagine a world with two Marvel properties existing in the same space, and in direct competition with each other.
Again all of this is based purely on rumors, and the extensions of those rumors like NetherRealm actually working on a Marvel vs. DC game of some sorts, which is something that's been a long-running dream for many comic book fans. But by virtue of even having a "vs." in its title would draw immediate parallels to Marvel vs. Capcom. A lot of fighting game fans are hoping to see another MvC title after the relative commercial flop of the last game, with less direct interference from Marvel and Capcom's seeming resurgence of energy into its fighting games.
But Marvel is still very careful with its licensing now, and many fans are worried that it wouldn't allow for two direct competitors to exist in the same space. Hopeful fans should take this with a grain of salt, as it's purely conjecture and speculation. Marvel might instead just look to distance the release of the two games in order to limit cannibalizing its own markets, especially with the now renowned Marvel properties
A Marvel game from NetherRealm Studios is rumored to be in development.