MultiVersus Fans Celebrate Season 5 Updates as #SaveMultiVersus Trends Before Shutdown

MultiVersus is set to close its doors when Season 5 concludes in May, yet the recent update that increased combat speed has reignited fans' passion for the game, leading to the trending hashtag #SaveMultiVersus on social media platforms. The excitement surrounding the game's final season, which kicked off on February 4 at 9am PT, was palpable within the Warner Bros. platform fighting game community. Despite the looming shutdown announced by developer Player First Games last week, the introduction of DC's Aquaman and Looney Toons' Lola Bunny as the last playable characters, along with significant gameplay enhancements, has transformed what was expected to be a somber farewell into a celebration of improved gameplay.

The shift in combat dynamics was first highlighted in a Season 5 Combat Changes Preview video shared on X/Twitter by Player First Games. This update marks a significant departure from the criticized 'floaty' gameplay experienced during the MultiVersus beta test in 2022 and even surpasses the speed seen upon its relaunch last May. The patch notes for Season 5 reveal that the increased speed results from reduced hitpause across most attacks, allowing for quicker combo execution. Specific characters like Morty, LeBron, Iron Giant, Bugs Bunny, and Black Adam have been fine-tuned to move even faster, particularly when using certain aerial attacks, while Garnet's abilities have been balanced to adjust her ringout potential on the ground and in the air.

This update has transformed the nearly one-year-old fighting game into a vastly different experience, with players enjoying more than just the new characters. However, the joy is bittersweet as MultiVersus is scheduled to shut down completely on May 30. Warner Bros. Games plans to remove the game from digital storefronts and eliminate online play, leaving only offline modes available. As the community grapples with this reality, fans are both mourning the game's end and celebrating the leap in quality brought by the Season 5 update.

Social media reactions range from shock and frustration to hope and nostalgia. X user @PJiggles_ described MultiVersus as "the most interesting bad game in existence," reflecting on its journey from beta to relaunch and the unexpected improvement in combat speed. Professional player Jason Zimmerman (Mew2King) questioned the timing of these changes, while a Reddit user lamented that if the game had started with these improvements, it could have been a lasting success. Another user, Desperate_Method4032, praised the update for addressing all their previous issues with the game, expressing a glimmer of hope that Warner Bros. might reconsider the shutdown.

Despite these sentiments, Player First Games and Warner Bros. remain firm in their decision to end the game's service. Game director Tony Huynh shared final thoughts on X, addressing player concerns, while Warner Bros. disabled real-money transactions as of January 31, offering the Season 5 premium battle pass for free as a parting gift. As the shutdown date approaches, the community continues to engage with the game, creating and sharing memes that capture the bittersweet essence of this moment in the fighting game world.