The recently rumored Marvel-based XCOM title by Firaxis won't include any existing characters, instead letting players craft their own heroes.
The previously rumored Marvel-based XCOM game won’t actually feature any existing comic book characters, instead allowing players to create their own heroes. Marvel has seen a bit of a renaissance when it comes to video games in recent years, thanks to Insomniac’s critically acclaimed Spider-Man titles, Crystal Dynamics’ less-warmly-received Marvel’s Avengers, and Eidos Montreal’s upcoming Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy.
There is more on the way too, as a recent leak from Borderlands publisher 2K Games hints that developer Firaxis is working on a Marvel-based real-time strategy game in the style of its XCOM and Civilization franchises. Little else is known about this mystery game aside from it possibly featuring famous actors in voice roles, but it wasn’t clear if these would include the stars of the MCU reprising their parts from the films. A recent development implies that this won't be the case: in fact, famous Marvel heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, and Spider-Man might not be appearing in this new game at all.
According to VGC, journalist Jeff Grubb revealed during a recent appearance on the Giant Bomb livestream that the yet-unrevealed Marvel game being developed by Firaxis won't be based on any existing Marvel characters, but rather be set in the larger Marvel Universe as a whole in a way that could be considered "a new property." Players will get to create a custom team of original heroes and play through a story that deals with "the supernatural elements of the Marvel universe,” with Gruff specifically mentioning vampires as a possible enemy. He also suggests that this new game will be unveiled at Gamescom later this month.
This approach of letting players create their own heroes within a pre-established comic book world is not unlike the DC Universe MMO, though that particular game still featured appearances from existing characters like Batman and Superman. Likewise, past Marvel-based titles like 2005’s ill-fated Marvel Nemesis: Rise Of The Imperfects and the equally doomed 2011 action-RPG X-Men Destiny also put players in the role of original characters with the pre-existing heroes in a side role, but these characters weren't made by the player.
The Marvel Universe by itself is vast enough for countless stories and characters to be created and featured, so Firaxis’s rumored approach of focusing entirely on custom-made heroes could work for its supposed superhero RTS title. Perhaps there will be some kind of in-game story explanation for why the big-name Marvel heroes are nowhere to be found, like them all being taken by a mysterious force that the new heroes have to combat. In any case, these are all still just rumors and speculation at this point; fans should stay tuned for more official word on this new 2K-produced MarvelXCOM title should it even exist.
