As MultiVersus gears up for its final curtain call at the end of Season 5 in May, fans are experiencing a surprising renaissance thanks to a transformative update that has significantly enhanced the game's combat speed. This unexpected boost in gameplay has not only revitalized the community's enthusiasm but has also ignited a fervent #SaveMultiVersus campaign across social media platforms.
The Warner Bros. platform fighting game kicked off its fifth and concluding season on February 4 at 9am PT. Despite the announcement from developer Player First Games last week about the impending shutdown, the addition of DC's Aquaman and Looney Toons' Lola Bunny as the last playable characters, coupled with extensive movement changes, has turned what was expected to be a melancholic farewell into a thrilling finale. The much-requested increase in combat speed has finally been implemented, delivering a faster-paced experience that players have long yearned for.
The game's newfound agility became evident after Player First released a Season 5 Combat Changes Preview video on X/Twitter, showcasing characters executing combos and traversing the screen at unprecedented speeds. This marks a significant departure from the criticized "floaty" gameplay during the MultiVersus beta test in 2022 and even surpasses the pace set during its relaunch last May.
According to the Season 5 update patch notes, the speed boost is attributed to a reduction in hitpause "across most attacks in the game," enabling faster combo execution across the board. Specific characters like Morty, LeBron, Iron Giant, Bugs Bunny, and Black Adam have received additional tweaks to enhance their speed, while Garnet's adjustments aim to balance her impact in different scenarios.
Season 5 has transformed the nearly year-old game into a nearly unrecognizable experience, with players finding much more to enjoy than just the new characters. However, this revitalization comes too late, as MultiVersus is set to shut down on May 30, marking the end of seasonal content and its removal from digital storefronts, leaving only offline modes for fans.
The community's reaction has been one of shock and a sense of powerlessness, as the game finally reaches the heights they've always hoped for. X user @PJiggles_ described MultiVersus as "the most interesting bad game in existence," reflecting on its journey from beta to relaunch and now to this sudden enhancement. Jason Zimmerman (Mew2King), a professional Super Smash Bros. player, questioned the timing of the speed increase in a reply to a Player First post, wondering why it wasn't implemented earlier.
A Reddit user lamented the missed opportunity, stating, "but man, if this was how the relaunch started off we could’ve really had something. (Apex Legends) is probably one of the worst monetization schemes out there but it lasted so long because it nailed the fundamentals at the start." The sentiment reflects the community's frustration and longing for what could have been.
Despite the looming shutdown, players like Desperate_Method4032 on Reddit are celebrating the drastic improvements, noting that the Season 5 update addressed "every issue I had with the game." The enhanced gameplay and polished animations have sparked hope, albeit faint, that Warner Bros. might reconsider the shutdown, given the game's newfound potential.
Unfortunately, Player First and Warner Bros. remain steadfast in their decision to end the service this summer. Game director Tony Huynh shared closing thoughts on X, addressing player questions and concerns, while Warner Bros. disabled real-money transactions on January 31, making the Season 5 premium battle pass free for all players as a final gesture.
MultiVersus will cease operations permanently at 9 am PT on May 30. As Warner Bros. moves forward with its shutdown plans, the community finds solace in creating and sharing memes, celebrating a game that finally met their expectations right before its end.
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