There once was a point when Marvel's Avengers was going to launch alongside the next-generation PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles. Unfortunately for those hoping to play the next-gen version of the game, it wound up getting delayed to 2021. Luckily for fans, the wait for Marvel's Avengers on next-gen consoles is nearly over, launching March 18 with the option for existing owners to upgrade for free.
Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix have released a new Marvel's Avengers trailer that explains the game's next-gen features. This includes faster load times, which will allow players to load into missions faster and should generally improve the overall experience. Players will also noticed improved textures in the next-gen version of Marvel's Avengers, with the game said to maintain 60 frames per second at 4K resolution.
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Improved visuals will be noticeable elsewhere in the next-gen version of Marvel's Avengers as well, particularly when it comes to the various heroes' special moves and the environmental destruction. These improvements may be most noticeable when Marvel's Avengers players are playing the game as the Hulk, as his attacks tend to smash everything around him.
Those playing Marvel's Avengers on next-gen consoles should be aware that they can still play the game with their friends who have yet to upgrade. Like many other recent multiplayer games, Marvel's Avengers supports cross-gen multiplayer, allowing fans to play together within the same console family. This means that those on Xbox Series X can play with those on Xbox One and those on PS5 can play with those on PS4. Marvel's Avengers cross-platform multiplayer is not available at the time of this writing.
The Marvel's Avengers next-gen update arrives on March 18 and it's not coming alone. The Hawkeye DLC will also be available on March 18, giving fans of the multiplayer superhero game more reason to jump back in. However, the next-gen debut will also come alongside a new patch that has so far been quite controversial in the community.
The developers are changing the way XP works in Marvel's Avengers in a manner that is believed to make the game more of a grind. This decision has already been criticized by the community, and many seem puzzled as to why the developers would do this when they are wanting to get people into the game. Marvel's Avengers' underperformance has been well-documented, and a decision like this seems counterintuitive if the goal is to reverse its misfortunes. Regardless, it will be interesting to see if people return to Marvels Avengers to check out the next-gen features and the free Hawkeye content.
Marvel's Avengers is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions coming on March 18.