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GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

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."
By Tor Thorsen, GameSpot
Posted Feb 11, 2008 12:31 pm PT

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.

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Video Q&A: Microsoft Game Studios' Shane Kim @ D.I.C.E.
We speak with Shane Kim about mergers, acquisitions, franchises, and Microsoft's position in the current games market.
Posted Feb 11, 2008 | 4'21" | Hi-Res: 59.7MB | Lo-Res: 12.7MB
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277 Comments

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Thewbacca

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

Posted Jun 23, 2008 7:34 pm PT
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WiRedLiVE

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

Posted Apr 28, 2008 1:04 pm PT
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WiRedLiVE

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

Posted Apr 28, 2008 12:52 pm PT
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Vidoegameatic

way too sad

Posted Apr 27, 2008 4:41 pm PT
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turgzz

really sad
marvel rocks

Posted Mar 7, 2008 2:32 pm PT
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DiscGuru101

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.

Posted Mar 3, 2008 12:46 am PT
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darkonimaster

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.

Posted Feb 18, 2008 4:23 pm PT
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Odraude5

this blows
'Nuff said

Posted Feb 17, 2008 6:56 pm PT
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jannlee111

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

Posted Feb 17, 2008 11:07 am PT
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nowyoufacedoom

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.

Posted Feb 17, 2008 2:27 am PT
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fudgiebrown1

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
my dreams

Posted Feb 16, 2008 7:39 am PT
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Hellpop

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

Posted Feb 15, 2008 4:38 pm PT
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SSGSTrunks

Why? That game would've rocked!

Posted Feb 15, 2008 12:05 pm PT
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homie13_9

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....

Posted Feb 15, 2008 7:31 am PT
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Topher_Rawks

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

Posted Feb 14, 2008 8:40 pm PT
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gertish

Lame, I would have bought this game.

Posted Feb 14, 2008 8:36 pm PT
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bennie12

Dammit.

Posted Feb 14, 2008 2:31 pm PT
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8bit16bitsowhat

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

Posted Feb 14, 2008 2:30 pm PT
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El_Shabang

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

Posted Feb 14, 2008 8:34 am PT
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ahmedsamir_7

I was looking forward to this
sad news
DAMN Microsoft

Posted Feb 14, 2008 4:49 am PT
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artiebillymac

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

Posted Feb 13, 2008 7:07 pm PT
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pygmahia5

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

Posted Feb 13, 2008 5:51 pm PT
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mathiasX

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

Posted Feb 13, 2008 3:25 pm PT
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Thorpe89  

Could had potential but I guess, not anymore.

Posted Feb 13, 2008 12:47 pm PT
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Ninja_RaVeN

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

Posted Feb 13, 2008 11:53 am PT
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guppieface

blahh i read this bcause im bored

Posted Feb 13, 2008 8:23 am PT
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graavigala

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

Posted Feb 13, 2008 2:34 am PT
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xboxaficionado

I was looking forward to this game, too bad.

Posted Feb 13, 2008 12:31 am PT
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Fake_Sketch

u.u acyually I was expecting this gameTT

Posted Feb 12, 2008 7:05 pm PT
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gnbfd

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

Anyway this sucks. That was actually a good idea

Posted Feb 12, 2008 4:56 pm PT
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Ryking

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.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 4:49 pm PT
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Swampthing

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.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 4:33 pm PT
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ghost867

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.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 3:18 pm PT
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godzillavskong

That sucks! I'm not a big MMO player, but I would have played this one. Who doesn't love Marvel Comics? Almost everyone I know, that is into gaming, loves comics. C'mon, we know M$ has the $ to back this one, and it would be sure to sell. As long as it doesn't have a subscription fee attached.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 2:23 pm PT
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Cradleofbodom

**** that sux, sounded awsome

Posted Feb 12, 2008 2:22 pm PT
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oliver_475

Mmmm, that sounded like it had potential

Posted Feb 12, 2008 2:01 pm PT
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Chief_Kuuni

shoot, I was really wanting to get this game too

Posted Feb 12, 2008 1:40 pm PT
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Ryking

I was so looking forward to this. I agree with the other posters saying the superhero stuff is more interesting then lord of the rings or dare I say WoW. Even though i prefer Marvel, I guess there's still the DC one to look forward to. Only thing that could make this better is if City of Heroes/Villains comes to a console. That would be awesome.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 1:39 pm PT
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uklegendkiller

In my opinion it was quite over ambitious and could have caused them a lot of problems keeping it up and running.
So maybe it's for the best that they cancelled it.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 12:45 pm PT
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markevens

spasticus162 said: "Im guessing microsoft wanted this game to be playable without monthly charges and marvel got pi**ed."

Are you nuts! MS wanted to charge for playing Halo 2 Vista online when PC standard for online shooters had been free to play for years. If anything, it was the other way around, but I doubt that was the cause at all.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 12:25 pm PT
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spasticus162

everyone keeps saying its a crowded market(mmorpg)
On pc i agree. But me and many 360 owners were looking forward to this.
Im guessing microsoft wanted this game to be playable without monthly charges and marvel got pi**ed.
I know the monthly charges put me off final fantasy xi and if i dont like it i cant trade it in.
tis a damn shame.
superheroes are way cooler than all this lord of the rings sh*t.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 11:12 am PT
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jdukes247

i wanted that game o well

Posted Feb 12, 2008 11:12 am PT
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spasticus162

everyone keeps saying its a crowded market(mmorpg)
On pc i agree. But me and many 360 owners were looking forward to this.
Im guessing microsoft wanted this game to be playable without monthly charges and marvel got pi**ed.
I know the monthly charges put me off final fantasy xi and if i dont like it i cant trade it in.
tis a damn shame.
superheroes are way cooler than all this lord of the rings sh*t.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 11:11 am PT
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BringTheBlood

damn that sucks i wanted to play that. but o well i guess.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 10:09 am PT
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Loucetios

andrew_ribbons

wait whats that? mass effect going to pc? shame shame shame

Posted Feb 12, 2008 9:22 am PT
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The_Weekend

i expected it, it's a nice thought but how do-able is it at the end of the day ... really quite questionable.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 9:21 am PT
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roams

I was really looking forward to this and now I'm pissed. I wanna know who's fault this is.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 8:59 am PT
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andrew_ribbons

Loucetios: Yep and all those wonderful things about PSN. What's this? You don't have Mass Effect DLC content coming your way soon? Oh shame. Shame shame shame. Hah.

Posted Feb 12, 2008 8:52 am PT
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solaris1979

No More Heros for Vista and 360....

Posted Feb 12, 2008 8:42 am PT
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