In 2024, both Marvel and DC have each recently published a game. Despite Marvel’s game, Marvel Rivals, being free-to-play and likened to Overwatch with superheroes, it has garnered better reception than DC’s release, Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League.
The latter, perceived as an uninspired live service game that has failed to meet expectations, has not sustained player interest post-launch. The delayed launch of season two coincided with the Marvel Rivals beta, prompting curiosity about how a Suicide Squad hero shooter might have looked and longing for one.
Over the years, Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad has been heavily criticized, although the studio’s potential is still evident in the game. The narrative intent of the game was to continue the Arkham series’ storylines, but it missed the mark by attempting a live service format.
This led to bland backdrops and unsuccessful attempts to captivate players with characters they weren’t invested in. The suggestion is made that if DC had chosen to develop a hero shooter, portraying the conflict between the villains and the Justice League, it might have received a more positive response.
It is argued that DC’s darker energy could have been well-suited for this kind of game. However, it is acknowledged that the opportunity for such a project has passed, and the market for hero shooters is already oversaturated.
It is advised that for development to be successful, studios should anticipate future trends rather than replicate what is currently popular.
