DC Had Its Own Marvel Rivals

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As Marvel Rivals continues to dominate the online gaming space, it raises questions about the fate of DC Comics’ MOBA, Infinite Crisis. The history of online gaming is littered with superhero titles, ranging from beloved classics like City of Heroes to more lackluster efforts like Marvel Heroes. However, even iconic characters like Batman, Spider-Man, or Supergirl are not always enough to save a game from failure. Looking back at the rise and fall of Infinite Crisis and the meteoric success of Marvel Rivals, there are valuable lessons to be learned about what it takes to succeed as a MOBA and deliver the kind of gaming experience these timeless characters deserve.

Released in 2024, Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play online hero shooter that has captured the imagination of players worldwide. Through a variety of matches and modes, players take on the roles of their favorite Marvel characters in an epic battle for the multiverse between Doctor Doom and his futuristic counterpart, Doom 2099. Developed by NetEase Games and launched alongside a series of digital comics expanding the game’s lore, Marvel Rivals quickly found its audience. Within 72 hours of release, it attracted 10 million players and peaked at 480,990 active players on the Steam platform. By December 2024, the game had surpassed 20 million players, solidifying its status as one of modern gaming’s greatest success stories.

What Was DC’s Infinite Crisis Game?

Before Marvel Rivals DC Recruited Players For The Fate of the Multiverse

Announced in 2013, Infinite Crisis was a product of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Turbine, a studio known for MMORPGs like Lord of the Rings Online. The concept was straightforward: to create a competitor to series like League of Legends and DOTA 2, leveraging DC’s iconic characters. By the time the game launched in 2015, Infinite Crisis had evolved beyond being just a clone, hoping to carve out its own space within the DC multiverse. Infinite Crisis sought to conjure unique characters, lore, and merchandise, aiming to establish itself as a multimedia franchise. However, with high ambitions and expectations surrounding its release, it raises questions about what Infinite Crisis truly was during its short lifespan and what it intended to become.

Inspired by the comic arc of the same name, Infinite Crisis centered on multiverse-spanning battles, allowing players to control DC’s most iconic heroes, villains, and their alternate-reality counterparts, similar to Marvel Rivals. From a mutated Poison Ivy hailing from a Fallout-inspired wasteland to the classic Batman, the game’s roster offered a mix of familiar faces and unexpected surprises, such as Krypto the Superdog.

These characters brought distinguished abilities and personalities to the table: characters like the villain Starro could resurrect fallen enemies, while Krypto featured a unique combat mechanic where teammates could throw his toys to gain buffs. As a game, the ambition was clear: Infinite Crisis was not just another MOBA. It aimed to provide something deeply tied to DC’s extensive universe while standing alone as its own franchise, complete with comics that introduced new characters and a wave of merchandise showcasing them.

Infinite Crisis’ gameplay followed the familiar MOBA format, with multiple maps and game modes designed to encourage strategic thinking and team coordination. Players could engage in traditional 5v5 battles on Gotham Divided, a three-lane map reminiscent of genre staples. Coast City, on the other hand, offered a two-lane map with a Doomsday Device capable of turning the tide of battle. For those new to the online multiplayer game, Crime Alley provided a simple 1v1 map for learning tactics, while Gotham Heights introduced an underappreciated capture-and-hold format for added variety.

The core mechanics revolved around leveling up by defeating minions and enemy players, earning gold to purchase items that enhanced each champion’s abilities. Infinite Crisis knew what it wanted to be: a MOBA that stuck to proven mechanics while utilizing the star power of DC’s roster. Turbine avoided taking unnecessary risks in its gameplay but sought to stand out through its integration of lore and the rich possibilities of the DC multiverse.

The Fall of DC’s Infinite Crisis MOBA, Explained

What Kept Infinite Crisis From Becoming the Next Marvel Rivals

If DC’s multiverse has taught audiences anything, it is that even the mightiest champions can fall, and the most ambitious endeavors do not always unfold as intended. Unfortunately, unlike Marvel Rivals, which surpassed its predecessor and gained popularity by utilizing its roster of classic characters, Infinite Crisis failed to find its footing as a MOBA. The game’s demise was nothing short of tragic. It is ironic that another game centered on the multiverse now raises questions about the choices made by its creators, the circumstances surrounding its release, and the factors that ultimately kept it from reaching the heights of its future Marvel counterpart.

Though announced in 2013, Infinite Crisis would not officially launch until 2015, following both closed and open beta phases. Despite positive reactions from critics and players who saw its potential, the game struggled to gain traction. While DC’s characters were undeniably fun to play, many players felt they were unbalanced. Compounding this issue, the game’s multiple modes were largely inaccessible due to a sparse player base, forcing most to queue for Coast City. Turbine never implemented AI bots to address this imbalance or ensure access to other maps which they closed off.

At its peak, Infinite Crisis reached just 6,961 players in a single day, a number far too low to sustain the game. Frustrated players lacked the patience to wait for improvements, and Warner Bros was no different. Much like the now-infamous Concord, they announced the shutdown of the DC game mere weeks after its official release. What followed was the quiet cancelation of the accompanying comics, the disappearance of merchandise from store shelves, and the fade into obscurity for some of DC’s most unique characters, such as Atomic Joker and Nightmare Superman.

While a dwindling player base was the final nail in Infinite Crisis’ coffin, it was ultimately just a symptom of a larger issue. By 2015, the market was oversaturated with MOBAs vying to be the next League of Legends or DOTA 2. Games like Universal Monsters Online never made it past beta. Dawngate gained a cult following but couldn’t be saved.

Meanwhile, although Smite found lasting success, it further crowded the competitive online multiplayer landscape. Infinite Crisis offered standout features like unique characters, destructible environments, and top-tier voice talent, but it faced stiff competition. Many rival titles boasted more polished gameplay experiences, making it difficult for Infinite Crisis to carve out its niche or attract a stable audience.

How Marvel Succeeded Where DC Failed

Marvel Beat DC at Their Own Game in a Twist of Irony

In many ways, Marvel Rivals can be seen as the spiritual successor to DC’s Infinite Crisis. Although the two belong to entirely different genres, their challenges and aspirations intersect. At its core, Marvel Rivals is a comic-inspired online multiplayer game boasting an interdimensional roster and fierce competition. Yet, despite its striking similarities to Infinite Crisis, it has already surpassed its rivals, leaving fans to wonder what Marvel Rivals did differently to achieve such a rapid ascent.

Like Infinite Crisis, Marvel Rivals faced stiff competition. However, while Infinite Crisis faltered because its rivals offered higher-quality experiences, Marvel Rivals thrived by delivering them. For example, Overwatch was once celebrated for its fun multiplayer gameplay and endearing cast. As Blizzard Entertainment shifted to Overwatch 2, many fans noticed a decline, particularly with changes to tank roles and team composition. In contrast, Marvel Rivals embraced a more traditional approach with its team dynamics and characters, while also delivering some engaging movesets that made it feel distinguished.

Similarly, while Marvel Rivals had competitors like Concord and Paladins vying for attention, they struggled to match its success. Paladins never achieved the heights of Overwatch, while Concord, despite capturing the tone of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, failed to resonate with a broad audience and began shutting down mere days after release. Adding to its appeal, Marvel Rivals offered considerable value to its free-to-play audience, a notable contrast to Overwatch 2, which only recently began providing more free unlockables during holiday events in response.

Unlike Infinite Crisis, Marvel Rivals understood its strengths and focused on delivering what competitors lacked. NetEase recognized that, unlike DC’s failed games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Infinite Crisis, it could not rely on brand recognition alone. Instead, the minds behind Marvel Rivals understood the game didn’t need to take off running, it needed to soar with the intensity and flair of Iron Man himself.

Reflecting on Infinite Crisis, it is easy to focus on its fall and the lessons to be learned from its failure. However, it is equally important to acknowledge its ambitions and the successes it achieved. Infinite Crisis introduced audiences to some of the most fascinating and inventive characters in DC’s history. Moreover, it made a sincere effort to deliver an experience that felt epic and worthy of its legendary cast.

In the end, Infinite Crisis stands as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the potential of a bold idea. While not all projects are destined to succeed, like Marvel Rivals, the challenges they face are not always insurmountable. Sometimes, all it takes is innovation, opportunity, and a persevering attitude to show the world what a game can truly do.

“}]] Before Marvel Rivals took to the battlefields of the multiverse, DC recruited champions for an ambitious game before suddenly fading into obscurity.  Read More