Theofficial sitefor theMarvel’s Avengersgame has unveiled the December 8th release date for their new, free update which introduces Kate Bishop (Ashly Burch) and could be a game-changer for the title. Our previous write-up follows below:
The V 1.3.4 update is live and V 1.3.5 is underway, according to the officialMarvel’s Avengersweb site. Here’s a look at the fixes that came in the latest patch:
Reassemble Campaign & Avengers Initiative
Multiplayer & Match-Making
User Interface
Gear Challenges & Rewards
Marvel’s Avengersis a big-name title with lots of talent behind the scenes, plenty to enjoy while stepping into the shoes of your favorite superheroes, and more than enough gear to keep fans grinding at the highest levels. And yetthe playerbase has taken a nosedivein the weeks following release. What happened? Some bugs affecting the main gameplay, progression, and multiplayer had a lot to do with it, but mainly players just gravitated elsewhere to other games rather than replaying the same battles and missions again and again. Crystal Dynamics is aware of the fanbase feedback and is taking steps to course-correct in light of it.
In a recentSquare Enix news postfrom Crystal Dynamics' Head of Studio,Scot Amos, the “State of the Game Update” confirmed that, yeah, not everything had gone according to plan. (Amos went on to participate in a Q&Aafterwards that left fans less than reassured.) Changes to the content roadmap soon followed. They included delays to Kate Bishop’s highly anticipated arrival, which will likely push back the follow-up story featuring the other Hawkeye, Clint Barton. And while Amos mentioned the new Cloning Lab settings / missions and the Omega-level danger that comes with them, we have very few details about that otherwise enticing bit of content. Here’s what we know:
Marvel’s AvengersPlayers, Be Sure to Get Your Gift!
For one thing, it’s good to know Marvel / Square Enix / Crystal Dynamics is aware of the issues with the game. They’re currently offering a digital thank-you bundle, which includes:
This bundle will be available until 10:00 AM PDT on November 5th. You can hoard it and wait for the new content (which will come with some premium pricing options) or you can take advantage of the discounted store:
Community-Driven Updates and Improvements
To drive home the fact that the Devs are listening to players' complaints and constructive criticism, here’s a list of things they’re working on implementing:
A Ping system is a great QoL addition that will make navigating some twisty, turny areas a little breezier while also keeping your goofy AI teammates in line. Allowing players to revisit the Reassemble campaign as a NewGame+, essentially, is a fantastic way to encourage story-driven playthroughs. The above changes are a great start.
Late-Game Content & Gear
Here are some of the changes coming to the already-in-place endgame grind:
Why Crystal Dynamics would want to mimic a gamestyle from the beleagueredAnthemis beyond me, but perhaps that approach will pay dividends if the playerbase thinks the loot is worth the effort. But here’s a tease for some of the new content that could ease burdens on the Tachyon missions:
So here’s the most exciting part of the update so far, a very brief reveal of what those Omega-Level Threats will be:
That’s pretty cool, despite how cryptic it is. Sharp-eyed viewers have probably spotted by now that certain rewards / cosmetics can only be obtained by completing Cloning Lab missions … which don’t exist in the game yet. Stay tuned. But here’s the bummer…
Kate Bishop’s Arrival Will Be Delayed
Moving forward, we intend to have a fixed, predictable patching cycle to ensure all new content meets both our and your high standards and has time for extensive internal testing. We know fans are hungry for new content, but delivering a fun experience is our priority. With this in mind, we’ve decided to push Kate Bishop’s Operation launch back a bit, out of October. We’re sorry for this slight delay, but we are dedicated as a team to quality first.
When wedoget to play Kate Bishop’s Operation, we’ll be heading back into the Tachyon Rifts and exploring the source of them, a story that introduces a new threat. Here’s what follows that introduction:
Then comes Clint (we’ll have more information on him later) and looking into 2021, our biggest Avengers Initiative addition yet will introduce a new Hero, region, and narrative arc.
If you were hoping to continue playingMarvel’s Avengerson next-gen consoles, well, the good news is that youcan, but the full next-gen-ready game launch won’t be arriving until 2021:
We’ve also made the decision to shift our PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S launch to next year to ensure that we give our team the time to deliver a next-gen experience showcasing all that this game is meant to be. More details to come.
Until then, however, you’ll be able to continue playing the current-gen (PS4/Xbox One)Marvel’s Avengersgame on next-gen platforms to take advantage of their powerful hardware, be it via inserting a physical disk or redownloading the game. Two of the most obvious benefits of this are improved frame rates and faster loading times. In addition, players who make the jump to the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S will still be able to play co-op with their friends on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One respectively as well as carry their existing save-game forward to the next-generation of consoles!
All the above will be available to players at no additional cost, including the next-generation upgrades for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
That’s everything we know at the moment, but stay tuned for the latest (and hopefully greatest) onMarvel’s Avengersto come!
