As MultiVersus approaches its closure at the end of Season 5 in May, a recent update has revitalized the game's community, sparking a #SaveMultiVersus movement across social media. The Warner Bros. platform fighting game kicked off its final season on February 4 at 9am PT, following an announcement from developer Player First Games about the project's impending shutdown. The update introduced DC's Aquaman and Looney Tunes' Lola Bunny as the last playable characters, but what has truly captured players' attention are the sweeping changes to combat speed that have transformed the gameplay experience.
The excitement around the Season 5 update stems from a significant increase in combat speed, a long-requested feature from the community. After Player First released a Season 5 Combat Changes Preview video on X/Twitter, players quickly noticed that characters were now moving and chaining combos faster than ever before. This marks a departure from the slower, floatier gameplay that received criticism during the MultiVersus beta test in 2022 and even the game's relaunch last May.
According to the patch notes for Season 5, the enhanced speed is due to a reduction in hitpause "across most attacks in the game." This adjustment allows for quicker combo strings, with specific characters like Morty, LeBron, Iron Giant, Bugs Bunny, and Black Adam receiving tailored speed boosts. For instance, these characters can now fast fall during certain aerial attacks, enhancing their agility. Garnet, on the other hand, has seen changes to balance her ringout potential, making her stronger on the ground but weaker in the air.
The irony of MultiVersus finding its stride just as it nears its end has not been lost on the community. As the game prepares to shut down on May 30, fans are lamenting the loss of a game that has finally become what they hoped it would be. X user @PJiggles_ described MultiVersus as "the most interesting bad game in existence," highlighting its tumultuous journey from beta to relaunch and now, its final speed update. Professional player and content creator Jason Zimmerman (Mew2King) questioned the timing of the speed increase, suggesting that had these changes been implemented earlier, the game might have had a different fate.
Reddit users have echoed similar sentiments, with Desperate_Method4032 stating that the Season 5 update addressed "every issue I had with the game," praising the improved shield animations and overall polish. Despite the looming shutdown, the potential of the game has sparked hope among fans that Warner Bros. might reconsider its decision.
However, with Warner Bros. and Player First showing no signs of reversing their shutdown plans, the community is making the most of the time left. Real-money transactions were disabled as of January 31, and the Season 5 premium battle pass has been made free for all players as a final gesture. As MultiVersus prepares to go offline for good at 9 am PT on May 30, fans are sharing memes and celebrating the game's final moments, cherishing the gameplay that finally met their expectations.
