Square Enix’s upcoming action-adventure title, Marvel’s Avengers, recently entered beta before its official release scheduled for September 4. The game, which draws inspiration both from the original Avengers comic books and the famous film adaptations comprising the “Marvel Cinematic Universe,” will debut for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as well as Microsoft Windows and Google Stadia. It will also be playable on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 once these consoles are released.
The beta version of the game features a list of playable characters primarily drawn from the Cinematic Universe’s core Avengers lineup: Captain America, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, thunder god Thor, and the Black Widow. Additionally appearing is fan-favorite Ms. Marvel, aka Kamala Khan. Developer Square Enix has also confirmed that the archer Hawkeye, who plays a significant role in the Avengers films, will be added to the game as part of a free update.
Additionally, at least one version of Spider-Man will debut alongside the PlayStation 5 version of the game, likely as a tie-in to the upcoming game Spider-Man: Miles Morales. However, Spider-Man is currently planned to be exclusive to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, meaning that Xbox and PC users may not be able to play as the friendly neighborhood web-slinger.
However, data miners have recently discovered that assets for 15 currently unrevealed playable characters exist within the game’s beta version. These fifteen, coming from various Marvel properties, represent a move away from the core Cinematic Universe team.
Potential playable characters include:
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- Size shifter Ant-Man and his fabulous, high-flying partner The Wasp
- Captain America’s Cinematic Universe allies Falcon and Winter Soldier
- Vision and Scarlet Witch, later additions to the film version of the team
- Iron Man’s patriotic pal War Machine
- Captain Marvel and her mentor Mar-Vell
- Wakandan royalty Black Panther
- Scholarly sorcerer Dr. Strange
- S.H.I.E.L.D allies Quake and Mockingbird
- Kate Bishop, an inheritor of the Hawkeye name
- Defender and dispenser of justice, She-Hulk
Some of these characters, such as Kate Bishop, have been hinted to appear via interviews and in-game Easter Eggs eventually. However, others, including Captain Marvel and She-Hulk, have not previously been mentioned in connection to the Avengers video game at all. Ant-Man is an especially exciting entry, as Hank Pym, the scientist who first held that name, appears in-game as an NPC who assigns missions. (It is, however, possible that the Ant-Man who will be playable will be Scott Lang, who takes on the mantle in the films.)
Because some of these characters feature similar powers and fighting styles to existing playable heroes (most notably She-Hulk to Hulk, Kate Bishop to Hawkeye, War Machine to Iron Man, and possibly Captain Marvel to Ms. Marvel), a current popular fan theory is that these characters will be available as unlockable skins or perhaps mechanically similar “echo fighters” in the style of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Additionally, data miners discovered code, which indicates that several popular Marvel villains will eventually appear in the game. Currently, Marvel’s Avengers features players taking down the terrorist organization Advanced Idea Mechanics (A. I. M,) led by the huge-headed M. O. D. O. K., the mutated Abomination, and multi-weapon expert Taskmaster. However, code is present for vicious AI Ultron, the titular character of the 2015 film Avengers: Age of Ultron, as well as fellow villains Frenzy, Deathlok, Vindicator, Red Hulk, and Monica Rappaccini. It is unknown whether these characters will be playable or appear as enemies to fight.
Nothing has been officially confirmed yet — but the thought of loads and loads of playable heroes in Marvel’s Avengers is undoubtedly an exciting one!
