Summary
Popular Warner Bros. platform fighterMultiVersusis making its return this year after shutting down its open beta in 2023. With an official release coming this May,MultiVersusis positioned to deliveron its wacky mash-up concept, and there’s a good chance that more characters, locations, and concepts from Warner Bros. properties will be added to the game over time.
Following the formula established bySuper Smash Bros.back on the Nintendo 64,MultiVersushones in on the ever-alluring premise of the mega-crossover, bringing characters from disparate, oftentimes notably distinct, franchises together. The initial selling point of the game, for many consumers, is its diverse roster of iconic characters:MultiVersusis the only game (for now) where players can pit LeBron James against Superman, or Velma against Black Adam. The game’s roster will continue to grow, according to its developers, and many fans have characters like Harry Potter and Samurai Jack high on their wishlists. That said, there’s room for other, stranger additions.
Putting The Last of Us Characters in MultiVersus
MultiVersus’s character roster is about as unique as it gets in the world of mash-up fighters. Sure, players can have Sonic go up against Ice Climbers inSmash, butMultiVersusfeatures a real person, wielding a basketball as a weapon, as a playable character. Even just looking at the game’s fictional playable characters, there is a great deal of thematic and narrative diversity, as characters like Arya Stark, a canonically vicious murderer guilty of many disturbing acts, are presented alongside the likes of Gizmo fromGremlins. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and for some players, this sort of stark contrast is part of what makes theMultiVersusexperience novel and charming.
MoreMultiVersuscharacters are on the way, and it’s possible that Warner Bros. may want to loop in another best-selling, ubiquitous franchise:The Last of Us. Although the IP itself isn’t owned by Warner Bros., HBO is. So, much like Arya Stark and any other potentialGame of Thronescharacters, series icons like Ellie, Joel, or Abby could show up, perhaps aligning more with their HBO TV show renditions. At the same time,MultiVersuscould draw from the games when it comes to how a character controls, with Ellie being faster and more ranged-focused, Abby being more of a tank, and so on.
The Last of Us Characters Could Appear in MultiVersus, But Maybe They Shouldn’t
The Last of Usis a beloved franchise with dedicated fans, some of whom may like the idea of seeing their favorite characters in a wildly different context. However, this could turn out to be extremely awkward and tone-deaf, giventhe nature ofThe Last of Us, its bleak narrative, and its thematic framing, especially inPart 2.The Last of Usis a story about the horrors of violence and brutality, so placing its characters in a colorful, over-the-top brawler that celebrates cartoonish violence would be an odd choice, possibly coming across as cynical and out of touch.
Of course, it should be noted that there haven’t been any reports ofThe Last of Uscharacters coming toMultiVersus, but it’s not inconceivable, thanks to the IP’s connection to WB. Additionally, bizarre crossovers likeDead Space’s Isaac Clarke’sFortniteappearancemay prove that these sorts of mash-up games aren’t afraid of sacrificing tonal consistency at the altar of brand recognition. If Warner Bros. suspects, perhaps reasonably, that it can attract moreMultiVersusplayers by using iconic characters like Joel or Ellie, then the crossover shouldn’t be out of the question, regardless of narrative identity or thematic integrity.
MultiVersus
WHERE TO PLAY
CHARACTERS: Choose from Bugs Bunny, Batman, Arya Stark, Rick Sanchez, and many more. In MultiVersus, every star brings their unique moves, worlds and attitudes to fight. And as the roster expands, so does the spectacle — with new personalities and play styles turning up the heat in every battle.MAPS: Our maps turn legendary realms like the Batman’s Bat Cave, Jake and Finn’s Treefort, Game of Thrones’ Throne Room into epic battle grounds. And the best part? We’re adding new maps regularly, so the party never stops!MODES: Whether you’re seeking the intensity of 1v1, the frenzy of a 4-player mayhem, or team up for strategic 2v2 battles, we’ve got you covered. Plus, introducing an all new PvE mode, a thrilling realm of limitless combat possibilities designed for solo or co-op play.CROSS-PLATFORM: MultiVersus has full cross-play and cross-progression support across all platforms.
