The Marvel’s Avengers title has become an enduring cautionary tale for Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics. What was anticipated as a major hit instead resulted in significant commercial disappointment. Notably, between 2010-2011, a separate Marvel superhero project aimed to explore new gameplay territory through inventive design choices. This analysis explores the vision and eventual cancellation of this forgotten venture.
First-Person Superhero Experiment
Developed under THQ’s banner through its Australian studio and Blue Tongue Entertainment, this Avengers project sought differentiation through radical perspective shifts. The development team abandoned conventional third-person mechanics in favor of immersive first-person gameplay showcasing heroes’ unique sensory experiences. Planned roster expansions included War Machine, Ms. Marvel, and Hawkeye alongside core team members.
The Avengers. Source: THQ / Unseen64.
Original Narrative Vision
Contrary to assumptions about film tie-ins, developers emphasized creative independence. As artist Jeremy Love clarified:
[This game was] totally unrelated to the film. We were given early film art to use as reference for certain things but that’s about it.
Drawing from Marvel’s Secret Invasion storyline, the game proposed an invasion narrative featuring Skrull antagonists wielding stolen superhero abilities. This adaptation reimagined the aliens as combat-ready duplicates of Marvel’s iconic characters.
The Avengers. Source: THQ / Unseen64.
Strategic Combat Systems
Heroic adversaries like X-Men doppelgängers demanded tactical ability-switching between characters. Stark’s aerial assaults contrasted with Banner’s brute strength, while Odinson’s lightning mastery complemented Rogers’ precision combat. The combat system featured multi-angle killcam presentations and upgradeable skill trees through battlefield performance.
The Avengers. Source: THQ / Unseen64.
Cooperative Play Innovation
Teamwork mechanics formed the project’s foundation, supporting both local and online multiplayer. Advanced AI companions enabled solo players to execute combo attacks through timed ability chaining. These cooperative maneuvers granted combat bonuses, rewarding strategic coordination.
Development Challenges
Production commenced in 2010, initially targeting Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms with PC support. Transitioning studio resources and THQ’s financial decline during 2011 jeopardized the project. Publisher restructuring led to Australian studio closures and final cancellation in August 2011 despite developer efforts to secure Marvel’s intervention.
The Avengers. Source: THQ / Unseen64.
Post-Cancellation Legacy
Ubisoft later acquired Marvel licensing rights, though their subsequent Avengers title showed minimal connections to this cancelled vision. Archived development materials preserve the project’s ambitious scope through concept art and prototype footage, offering insights into this lost interpretation of Marvel’s heroes.