Multiversus’s open beta finishes this June, with publisher WB Games taking the platform brawler offline.
Multiversus entered its open beta last July and while some people – ourselves included – were expecting it to remain in open beta till its final release, that’s proven not to be the case. Instead, WB Games has announced that the open beta will end in June and the cartoon-style brawler will temporarily go offline.
How temporarily? WB have advised the game will return in early 2024, so that’s an absence of at least six months. As of April 4th, the game will be removed from digital storefronts and this June 25th the game will lose all offline play.
Why? WB are looking to give Multiversus a kick in the pants, using the feedback they’ve received from the beta. According to the official FAQ:
“Our Open Beta has been an important learning opportunity for us… We know there’s still a lot of work to do. As a result, we have a clearer view of what we need to focus on, specifically the content cadence of new characters, maps and modes to give you more ways to enjoy the game, along with updated netcode and more matchmaking improvements.”
What does this actually mean for Multiversus fans? Essentially, if you’ve downloaded the game even once, you’ll be able to re-download it indefinitely. And you will be able to play it offline, against human players or computer-controlled bots.
But there’ll be no online matches and if you haven’t downloaded it at least once, it’ll remain out of your reach until 2024. Still, it’s free to play, right – it’s not like you’re losing out financially, unlike the poor souls who purchased Babylon’s Fall.
Except, there is a monetary side to all this. Multiversus lets you purchase cosmetics – skins, emotes and so on, via Gleamium, a currency purchased with real money. Any cosmetics that Multiversus players have purchased will still work offline. And when the game returns, those players will still have those cosmetics.
But, we’d argue, one of the most compelling reasons to purchase in-game cosmetics is to show them off to other online players. And, for at least six months, that’ll no longer be an option. WB Games have also stated there won’t be any special refunds, which could irritate some currently loyal fans.
So if you want to play Multiversus while it’s away, you’ve got between now and April 4th to “claim” it. As to what form it’ll be in when it returns next year? There’s nothing to do but wait and see.
Multiversus is, until April 4th, available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
