After its hiatus, MultiVersus, featuring characters like Batman and Bugs Bunny, has returned but not to fan acclaim. Players report significant performance issues, including lag and frame dips across various platforms. Additionally, negative changes such as locked characters in local play and removal of certain game features have further disappointed the community. Despite these setbacks, there is hope among fans that the developers will address these issues.
The removal of the advanced tutorial mode in MultiVersus has likely impacted new players' ability to learn the game by eliminating a structured way for them to understand more complex game mechanics and strategies2. Advanced tutorials typically serve to bridge the gap between basic gameplay knowledge and more intricate aspects that are crucial for competitive play and deeper engagement2. Without this feature, new players might find it challenging to improve their skills beyond the basics, potentially leading to a less satisfying gaming experience and decreased player retention2. This change, coupled with other negative alterations such as increased character prices and restricted character availability in local play, suggests a broader shift in the game's accessibility and user-friendliness since its beta version.
The gameplay experience in MultiVersus saw several changes between its initial release in July 2022 and its relaunch in 2023. During the open beta in 2022, the game quickly gained popularity on Steam due to its unique platform fighter style and diverse roster of characters from the Warner Bros. universe. However, over time, players began to complain about a lack of updates and new characters, leading to a decline in the game's player base.
After a hiatus, MultiVersus relaunched in 2023 with the promise of being "better than ever." The relaunch included new characters, visual upgrades, matchmaking improvements, and a PvE mode2. However, upon its return, many players expressed disappointment with the state of the game. They reported poor performance, laggy combat, and negative changes compared to the open beta.
Some of the negative changes included characters being locked in local play, the removal of leaderboards, the absence of an advanced tutorial mode, increased in-game prices for cheaper characters, and the inability to earn battle pass XP from matches, among others. Players also complained that the game felt slower and clunkier compared to the beta. Despite these issues, some fans remained hopeful that the developers could address these problems and improve the gameplay experience over time.