I was asked about the most missed titles in the Fighting Game Community on the StayMAD Podcast, and I wanted to write about it here as well.
I feel that Marvel vs. Capcom and Mortal Kombat are the two games that are most missed by the Fighting Game Community right now, as they would do the most for the collective scene if these franchises received new entries that were well received by gamers.
Marvel doesn’t cannibalize other games, at least not traditionally. Marvel tends to be only additive, increasing stream numbers and tournament attendance across the board from my experiences in the Fighting Game Community.
There are a number of players in the FGC who are big time Marvel vs. Capcom players, and the way this game draws in eyeballs and hype is like few other things in our community.
You may immediately think of Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, but this is very much its own game, not sharing the same DNA and style that has made the Marvel vs. Capcom series so popular over the years.
Also, it’s missing the Capcom cast members, which are a big part of the appeal as well. The MvC series often plays in a busted or broken way, by design, which adds to the hype and appeal. This doesn’t appear to be something the developers of Marvel Tokon are attempting.
To date, there’s no replacement for the Marvel vs. Capcom series in the FGC, as it tends to be a unique game with its own appeals that aren’t easily replicated by other FGC developers.
If history holds true, and a new Marvel vs. Capcom game is well received by gamers, we’ll see an influx of old and new players returning and a major surge in viewership for FGC events.
The Marvel vs. Capcom franchise carries a lot of passion and energy in our community.
I’ve heard rumors that a new Marvel vs. Capcom game is currently in development, but there hasn’t been anything substantial to report on beyond this rumor, so take that as you will.
Mortal Kombat 1, released in September 2023, didn’t receive the expected amount of support from NetherRealm Studios, with the company confirming in May of last year that MK1 had finished receiving DLC characters and story content.
“We understand this will be disappointing for fans,” wrote NetherRealm Studios at that time, “but our team at NetherRealm needs to shift focus to the next project in order to make it as great as we possibly can.”
Ed Boon said back in 2024 that NetherRealm Studios next game has been planned for a long time, however the ongoing sale to Netflix and then Paramount with little mention of NetherRealm Studios has had to be incredibly rough for the people there.
How that sale will eventually shake out is anyone’s guess, because assets in acquisitions like this can be divided in many different ways.
NetherRealm Studios does own one particular IP that is very likely to stay in their possession, however: Mortal Kombat.
Ed Boon said the seeds for their next game were planted in Mortal Kombat 1, so if gamers dig deep enough, we won’t have to guess which game NRS is working on next.
Having a competitively viable and well received Mortal Kombat game is a wonderful addition for the Fighting Game Community, that will generate a ton of publicity and showcasing of talent.
We discuss the topic of the most missed games with long time NRS competitor Michaelangelo on the StayMAD Podcast in the video below at the 01:07:54 mark.