Marvel Universe Online officially offline

Microsoft Games Studios head Shane Kim confirms the ambitious Cryptic-developed 360-Vista massively multiplayer superhero game "has been discontinued."

In July 2006, Microsoft and Marvel Entertainment announced they were developing an ambitious project, Marvel Universe Online. The title was the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game designed for cross-play between Xbox 360 and Windows Vista, and the first MMORPG to feature characters from the Marvel Comics universe. As outlined in a GameSpot interview, Marvel Universe Online also marked the first collaboration between Marvel and developer Cryptic Studios after they settled a nasty legal flap over Marvel-esque characters in City of Heroes and City of Villains.

But following the high-profile announcements of 2006, the flow of information about Marvel Universe Online was shut off in 2007. Unconfirmed reports swirled that the project had been quietly canceled, even though official inquiries were greeted by Microsoft's standard refrain, "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation." However, the wall of silence broke at last week's D.I.C.E. Summit, when Microsoft Game Studios head Shane Kim told GameSpot that Marvel Universe Online is permanently offline.

"Microsoft and Marvel have decided to discontinue that project," the executive told GameSpot. "It was a mutual decision." Kim did not go into further detail about the game's cancellation.

The demise of Marvel Universe Online leaves Sony Online Entertainment's even more mystery-shrouded DC Comics PC and PlayStation 3 project as the highest-profile officially sanctioned comic-book massively multiplayer game in development. (City of Heroes and City of Villains, which feature character-created superhero characters, remain online.) It also comes shortly after Marvel ended its agreement with Electronic Arts to codevelop a fighting game. The company still has longstanding agreements with Activision and Sega to develop non-MMOG games based on its iconic characters.

293 Comments

  • Chickendude8890

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 8:25 pm PT

    It would have been awsome if they acctually made this game, but people these days are to lazy to actually put work into games anymore lyk they used to. And wat WierdLIVE said is true. They cancelled this game and are making Champions Online insted. Same thing kind of but without Marvel and the Complex stroylines

  • buckmana

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 4:55 pm PT

    That really sucks!

    I'm not a DC fan and Cities of Heroes was a terrible game, so this was really my last choice for a superhero mmo.

    I guess mmos that aren't about swords and sorcery are too hard to make (sarcasm implied).

  • Big_Bang159

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 11:03 am PT

    i wanted to be punisher((((

  • sebaste

    Posted Feb 11, 2009 2:48 am PT

    I think they need more time for the project.

  • starduke

    Posted Feb 10, 2009 8:45 am PT

    Why? Why did they cancel it? I'd just like to know. I want to be an online superhero in either DCU or Marvel. I geuss it has to be DCU now. I hope they don't end up canceling the DCU MMO too. That would be foolish.

  • DeadlyOnez

    Posted Feb 5, 2009 9:28 am PT

    go to ps3. it still wont make the ps3 any better. Home Blows

  • illusion121

    Posted Dec 25, 2008 10:55 pm PT

    Nooooooooooooooooo!! for the love of God bring it back!

  • justiceforeall

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 4:04 pm PT

    This was the only reason I was going to buy an X-box 360,....oh well!

  • burstlimit514

    Posted Sep 1, 2008 1:23 pm PT

    so now its on ps3 and pc? poor 360 fan boys.

  • vaskaville

    Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:32 pm PT

    So why was MUO canceled?

  • Gelugon_baat

    Posted Aug 2, 2008 7:24 pm PT

    Good riddance for Marvel Universe Online and that fighting game. They would have made a mockery of Marvel comics.

  • InsaneCheeseMan

    Posted Jul 27, 2008 12:12 pm PT

    @ Ares_hot
    You make custom heroes/villains to fight alongside/with the big names like Batman or Superman. I think it's because if you look at the Justice League or Legion of Doom, there's hundreds of unnamed characters who are lucky if they get a panel to themselves. Those are who the players represent.

  • ps3thabest

    Posted Jul 24, 2008 7:46 am PT

    bring that 2 ps3

  • Ares_hot

    Posted Jul 23, 2008 6:22 pm PT

    Im really confused, will u be able to make ur own characters or do u have to chose a premade one like superman or batman??

  • sunilian

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 10:39 pm PT

    this hurts

  • DiabolicalX

    Posted Jul 11, 2008 6:44 pm PT

    as much as I would have liked too see this game, there would be o way it could work and please the majority at the same time, you'd have about 1000 noobs running around as Spiderman or Wolverine. Though I would like to see a Marvel fighting game

  • Thewbacca

    Posted Jun 23, 2008 7:34 pm PT

    interesting. Dc and Marvel have chosen sides in the console war.

  • WiRedLiVE

    Posted Apr 28, 2008 1:04 pm PT

    if you want to watch the video, go to youtube because it glitches on the website

  • WiRedLiVE

    Posted Apr 28, 2008 12:52 pm PT

    its ok everyone. cryptic studio is still making a superhero MMORPG for the 360. its called "champions online". go to "champions-online.com"

  • Vidoegameatic

    Posted Apr 27, 2008 4:41 pm PT

    way too sad

  • turgzz

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 2:32 pm PT

    really sad
    marvel rocks

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Mar 3, 2008 12:46 am PT

    If it was going to be CoH/CoV clone, I would have canceled it too. -CoH/CoV is more than enough to meet the super hero MMO fix.

  • darkonimaster

    Posted Feb 18, 2008 4:23 pm PT

    That sucks rocks. Hopfully Sony and there Playstation3 will pick this up. Yet other let down by the world leader in let downs Microsoft Games Studios.

  • Odraude5

    Posted Feb 17, 2008 6:56 pm PT

    this blows
    'Nuff said

  • jannlee111

    Posted Feb 17, 2008 11:07 am PT

    man i wanted to be the hulk =( now hulk sad

  • nowyoufacedoom

    Posted Feb 17, 2008 2:27 am PT

    Why oh why??? This game would of had me calling off from work so many days. But oh well. Now I gotta wait and see if DC does a somewhat decent game with the PS3. Blegh!!! Marvel rocks!!!! 'Nuff Said.

  • fudgiebrown1

    Posted Feb 16, 2008 7:39 am PT

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
    my dreams

  • Hellpop

    Posted Feb 15, 2008 4:38 pm PT

    Got to be that no good idiot Quesada at Marvel. He f*#^$ everything up!

  • SSGSTrunks

    Posted Feb 15, 2008 12:05 pm PT

    Why? That game would've rocked!

  • homie13_9

    Posted Feb 15, 2008 7:31 am PT

    damn this wouldve been a good game i wouldve buoght i love marvel!!!!!! nemesis was was of ma favorites..with magneto!!! it was hot...but i guess not with this one..since is off now....hopefully they will change their minds again and make it....

  • Topher_Rawks

    Posted Feb 14, 2008 8:40 pm PT

    Damn. This would have pulled me into the MMORPG genre finally... What a shame, it sounded great...

  • gertish

    Posted Feb 14, 2008 8:36 pm PT

    Lame, I would have bought this game.

  • bennie12

    Posted Feb 14, 2008 2:31 pm PT

    Dammit.

  • 8bit16bitsowhat

    Posted Feb 14, 2008 2:30 pm PT

    this game would have actually made me use my 360 rather than just have it collecting dust behind my tv.

  • El_Shabang

    Posted Feb 14, 2008 8:34 am PT

    Interesting that everyone blames MS for this ... no one's here shouting "Damn you Marvel!"

  • ahmedsamir_7

    Posted Feb 14, 2008 4:49 am PT

    I was looking forward to this
    sad news
    DAMN Microsoft

  • artiebillymac

    Posted Feb 13, 2008 7:07 pm PT

    NO man this sucks MUO would have been great but oh well .

  • pygmahia5

    Posted Feb 13, 2008 5:51 pm PT

    wow...that is the biggest bs ever, it would have been a good game and made millions....gj ms

  • mathiasX

    Posted Feb 13, 2008 3:25 pm PT

    Congrats on letting down comic book/super hero fans everywhere..you suck microsoft.

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Feb 13, 2008 12:47 pm PT

    Could had potential but I guess, not anymore.

  • Ninja_RaVeN

    Posted Feb 13, 2008 11:53 am PT

    I was looking forward to this game! Damn you Microsoft!!!

  • guppieface

    Posted Feb 13, 2008 8:23 am PT

    blahh i read this bcause im bored

  • graavigala

    Posted Feb 13, 2008 2:34 am PT

    thank the gods! this game would have turned out same as City of Heroes/Villains

  • xboxaficionado

    Posted Feb 13, 2008 12:31 am PT

    I was looking forward to this game, too bad.

  • Fake_Sketch

    Posted Feb 12, 2008 7:05 pm PT

    u.u acyually I was expecting this gameTT

  • gnbfd

    Posted Feb 12, 2008 4:56 pm PT

    didn't M$ say earlier that a major first party title would be canned?

    Anyway this sucks. That was actually a good idea

  • Ryking

    Posted Feb 12, 2008 4:49 pm PT

    With Marvel produing the majority of their movies that are coming out in the next 2-5 years, it makes me wonder if maybe they aren't canceling this game so that they can make it themselves later on. They've already canceled their deal with EA to make fighting games.

  • Swampthing

    Posted Feb 12, 2008 4:33 pm PT

    So let me get this right... they sue the crap out of Cryptic Studios and NCSoft because people might be able to make similar characters to existing ones in the Marvel Universe and the argument they used in court was that it would detract from sales of their upcoming MMO... wtf?? So does this mean Cryptic Studios and NCSoft can have the court decision reversed... lol.

  • ghost867

    Posted Feb 12, 2008 3:18 pm PT

    Well, now we know what it is. Though I figured it was gonna be this, and not something else. Everything else major first party couldn't get canned. Just how it worked out.

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