The Warner Bros. platform fighting game, MultiVersus, is set to shut down at the end of Season 5 in May, yet a recent update has transformed its gameplay, sparking a #SaveMultiVersus movement on social media. The community eagerly embraced the fifth and final season, which launched on February 4 at 9am PT. Developer Player First Games had previously announced the game's closure, promising the addition of DC's Aquaman and Looney Toons' Lola Bunny as the last playable characters. However, the update brought more than just new characters; it introduced significant changes to combat speed, fulfilling a long-standing request from the player base. This update has revitalized the game, making it faster and more engaging than ever before, just as it approaches its end.
The noticeable increase in combat speed was first highlighted in a Season 5 Combat Changes Preview video shared on X/Twitter. Players familiar with the game's past iterations immediately recognized the difference, with characters now able to execute combos and move across the screen at an unprecedented pace. This change marks a departure from the criticized "floaty" gameplay experienced during the MultiVersus beta test in 2022 and even surpasses the speed seen at the game's relaunch in May of the previous year.
According to the Season 5 update patch notes, the enhanced combat speed results from a reduction in hitpause across most attacks. This adjustment allows for quicker combo execution, with specific characters like Morty, LeBron, Iron Giant, Bugs Bunny, and Black Adam receiving additional speed boosts. These characters can now fast fall during certain aerial attacks, while Garnet's ringout potential has been adjusted to balance her already swift gameplay.
The Season 5 update has transformed MultiVersus into a nearly unrecognizable version of its former self, offering players much more than just the two new characters. However, this improvement comes at a bittersweet time, as the game is scheduled to shut down on May 30. This closure will end seasonal content updates and remove the game from digital storefronts, with Warner Bros. Games planning to eliminate online play, leaving only offline modes available.
The community's reaction has been a mix of shock and frustration, as MultiVersus finally becomes the game fans have always wanted, right before its closure. X user @PJiggles_ described it as "the most interesting bad game in existence," reflecting on its journey from beta to relaunch and now to its final update. Professional Super Smash Bros. player Jason Zimmerman (Mew2King) questioned the timing of the speed increase, wondering why it wasn't implemented earlier.
On Reddit, users expressed their sentiments about the game's potential. One user lamented that if the relaunch had started with these changes, MultiVersus could have been a major success, drawing comparisons to games like Apex Legends that thrived due to strong fundamentals from the start. Another user, Desperate_Method4032, praised the Season 5 update for addressing all their concerns, from improved shield animations to overall polish, and expressed hope that Warner Bros. might reconsider the shutdown.
Despite the community's pleas and the game's newfound quality, Player First Games and Warner Bros. remain committed to their shutdown plan. Game director Tony Huynh shared final thoughts on X, addressing player concerns, while Warner Bros. disabled real-money transactions as of January 31, making the Season 5 premium battle pass free for all players as a parting gift.
MultiVersus will cease operations permanently at 9 am PT on May 30. As the shutdown looms, players are finding solace in creating and sharing memes, celebrating the game's final moments. The fighting game community is left to enjoy a game that finally meets their expectations, even as it faces its imminent end.
