Microsoft apparently working on bringing back ‘lost’ Marvel games
According to the Xbox Era podcast, Microsoft could be working to bring 2013's Deadpool and Marvel Ultimate Alliance back to Xbox consoles after they were delisted.
19th Aug 2024 16:57
Images via High Moon Studios | Raven Software
Microsoft apparently working on bringing back ‘lost’ Marvel games
According to the Xbox Era podcast, Microsoft could be working to bring 2013's Deadpool and Marvel Ultimate Alliance back to Xbox consoles after they were delisted.
19th Aug 2024 16:57
Images via High Moon Studios | Raven Software
We're in a renaissance of Marvel games right now, with Insomniac Games powering ahead alongside Arkane's Blade, Skydance's Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, and more. We've always had games based on the comic book capers of the Avengers and X-Men, but sadly, many have been lost to time.
Licensing issues are a continuous thorn in the side of Marvel fans, with the likes of Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, Telltale's Guardians of the Galaxy, and X-Men: Destiny being just some of the titles you can no longer play unless you own a physical copy and some old tech. Even 2020's Marvel's Avengers has been delisted.
Xbox could bring back lost Marvel games
There's an unlikely saviour suiting up and ready to throw Captain America's shield at licensing issues, with Microsoft reportedly in talks to bring back two A-list Avengers. Speaking on the Xbox Era podcast, Speshal Nick Baker claimed that 2013's Deadpool and the OG Marvel Alliance could be returning to the Xbox store.
Baker explained, "They (Microsoft) are looking to get Deadpool and Marvel Ultimate Alliance relicensed to bring those two games back for PC and Series Consoles," but admitted that it's far from done yet. After Activision lost the rights, Marvel games have been purged from digital storefronts.
Deadpool was released on the Xbox One and can be played on the Xbox Series, but as we've covered, the popularity of Deadpool & Wolverine has seen the cost of a physical copy soaring through the roof. Still, Baker referred to this as a no-brainer, considering the recent buddy movie has already crossed a billion at the box office.
We've previously heard about trying to bring back the old Activision games, with X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Hulk: Ultimate Destruction being championed as two games we'd love to revisit. The problem is that Marvel is currently pretty cosy with Sony, and with Insomniac's Wolverine on the way, it might be hard to get Deadpool back on Xbox.
Responding to the rumours on the r/Gaming subreddit, one fan said, "Would be cool… we’ll see if it actually happens. Microsoft should hit up Hasbro and relist the old Transformers games as well." Another added, "Please re-release Wolverine Origins. I am so close to buying a PS3 copy on eBay, and they're going for like >$150," and a third said, "If Marvel Heroes comes back I'll literally cry."
It's a complicated web of rights worthy of Spider-Man himself, and while Disney would undoubtedly want a slice of the Marvel gaming action, it sounds like things are in the early stages. Even as the industry moves further into a digital age, we'd love someone to dig up these old relics and give them another time to shine.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
