Last December, Marvel Rivals made an entrance with a bang, introducing 33 heroes and 8 maps right out of the gate. They came prepared with a promising roadmap that brightened the outlook for this ambitious hero shooter. By February 2025, Marvel Rivals had attracted a staggering 40 million active players, an impressive achievement considering the fiercely competitive nature of the live-service market in recent years.
In contrast, DC has been struggling to find its footing. First, Gotham Knights received a lukewarm reception. Then, catastrophe struck with the launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The latest setback comes with the cancellation of Wonder Woman and the closure of Monolith Productions. DC is in dire need of a hit, and both James Gunn and Peter Safran have suggested that creating something akin to Marvel Rivals is entirely within the realm of possibility. However, if DC ventures down this path, they’ll need to craft a unique experience rather than simply mimicking Marvel Rivals.
### Charting an Original Path for a DC Hero Shooter
Marvel Rivals revolves around an intriguing premise where Doctor Doom and his counterpart from 2099 discover a way to merge multiple timelines in an event known as the “Timestream Entanglement.” This event shakes the entire Marvel multiverse, allowing different timelines’ characters to team up. This concept also provides fresh takes on iconic characters, like a version of Captain America who emerges from the ice in 2099.
While multiverses are all the rage these days, a DC hero shooter might be wise to steer clear of them. If incorporating a multiverse is unavoidable, the approach should stand apart from Marvel Rivals’. Imagine a DC game focusing on multiple Elseworlds versions appearing simultaneously, such as diverse Batmen working together to thwart various Joker variants.
Such a concept would still enable DC to spotlight various Elseworld characters and settings, yet with a distinct narrative flair, given that Marvel Rivals doesn’t emphasize multiverse iterations of its playable heroes.
### Establishing a Unique Gameplay Angle
This Elseworlds theme could be the foundation of a potential DC hero shooter’s gameplay. Characters could have different visual styles and loadouts, each based on an Elseworlds variant. Take Batman, for example: his personas could include the classic design, a Gotham by Gaslight version, and an Absolute Batman version. Classic Batman might wield traditional Batarangs and a grapple gun, while Gotham by Gaslight Batman could have stealth-centric abilities, and Absolute Batman might use a detachable Bat-Axe.
This diversity could offer truly varied team setups, letting multiple players choose the same hero but with different tools. Though balancing such a character-rich game could pose challenges, this premise offers a vibrant avenue for a DC shooter to shake up the market and stand out from contemporaries like Marvel Rivals.
In the world of gaming, distinctiveness is crucial. With a little creativity and a fresh approach, a DC hero shooter could chart its course and become a formidable player in the hero shooter genre, leaving a lasting impact.
