Marvel Rivals might be enjoying its share of success, despite some unfortunate layoffs, by bringing together a vast array of Marvel heroes in an exciting way. Yet, there was once another intriguing direction Marvel could have taken—a “Marvel Gaming Universe” akin to the MCU. This intriguing idea, however, never took off.
This failed initiative was recently discussed on The Fourth Curtain podcast by Bungie co-founder Alexander Seropian, previously Disney Interactive Studios’ VP of game development, and Marvel Rivals writer Alex Irvine. They delved into the reasons it never came to life, suggesting that executives might have been daunted by the challenging lore-related questions it raised.
Seropian and Irvine reminisced about the early discussions around a Marvel gaming universe, which was intended to function similar to the MCU. Unfortunately, as Irvine detailed, Disney never green-lit the project. Seropian noted that his pitch aimed to create a unified timeline across Marvel’s games, trying to cement the idea before the MCU was even established on the film front.
Despite their passion, Disney chose not to support the project, leaving the creatives frustrated after brainstorming numerous innovative ideas. Irvine even highlighted some of these concepts during the podcast.
Reflecting on those early days, Irvine recalled, “I was transitioning away from Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) and thought, ‘Imagine integrating ARG aspects!’ We envisioned a hub where players could engage across various games, linking comics and introducing new content.”
Why the Marvel Gaming Universe fell through remains speculative, but Irvine suggested the complexity of the project may have been its downfall. “Back then,” he explained, “we struggled to determine how the MGU would differentiate itself from comics or movies. Trying to maintain consistency raised questions that some at Disney preferred not to tackle.”
Consequently, we’re left without a grand connection between games like Insomniac’s Spider-Man series and the upcoming Wolverine title, or other projects like Skydance New Media’s Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra and Arkane’s Blade game. Nevertheless, Marvel Rivals offers its own unique thrill, where Venom can still face off against a shark named Jeff.
