MultiVersus Fans Applaud Season 5 Updates Before Shutdown, #SaveMultiVersus Trends

The Warner Bros. platform fighting game, MultiVersus, is set to shut down at the end of its fifth season in May. However, a recent update introducing significant changes to combat speed has revitalized the game's community, leading to an unexpected surge in player enjoyment and the emergence of the #SaveMultiVersus movement on social media.

The launch of Season 5 on February 4 at 9am PT marked the beginning of the end for MultiVersus. Developer Player First Games had previously announced the game's closure, promising the addition of DC’s Aquaman and Looney Toons’ Lola Bunny as the final characters. Despite the looming shutdown, the update brought substantial improvements to the game's mechanics, fulfilling long-standing player requests for a faster-paced experience. This update has transformed the game's feel, moving away from the criticized "floaty" gameplay of the 2022 beta and surpassing the speed seen at its relaunch in May of the previous year.

The Season 5 Combat Changes Preview video released on X/Twitter showcased the increased combat speed, achieved through a reduction in hitpause across most attacks. This change allows for quicker combos, with specific characters like Morty, LeBron, Iron Giant, Bugs Bunny, and Black Adam receiving additional speed enhancements. Garnet's adjustments balance her impact by enhancing her ringout potential on the ground while reducing it in the air.

The patch notes for Season 5 detail these changes, highlighting how the game has evolved into something almost unrecognizable from its previous iterations. Players are enjoying not just the new characters but the overall improved gameplay. However, the joy is tinged with sadness as MultiVersus is scheduled to shut down completely on May 30, ending seasonal content updates and removing the game from digital storefronts. Only offline modes will remain available post-shutdown.

The community's reaction is a mix of shock, frustration, and hope. X user @PJiggles_ described MultiVersus as "the most interesting bad game in existence," reflecting on its tumultuous journey from beta to relaunch and now to its final days. Professional player Mew2King questioned the timing of the speed increase, lamenting that such changes could have saved the game if implemented earlier. On Reddit, users like Desperate_Method4032 expressed that the Season 5 update resolved all their issues with the game, leaving them hopeful for a potential reversal of the shutdown plans.

Despite the community's pleas, Player First Games and Warner Bros. remain committed to their decision to end the game's service. Game director Tony Huynh shared his closing thoughts on X, addressing player concerns, while Warner Bros. disabled real-money transactions as of January 31, making the Season 5 premium battle pass free for all players as a final gesture.

As MultiVersus approaches its final days, players are finding solace in creating and sharing memes, celebrating the game's unexpected improvement even as it heads toward its conclusion. The bittersweet sentiment encapsulates the fighting game community's experience with MultiVersus—a game that finally meets player expectations just as it prepares to shut down.