The platform fighting genre, long dominated by a single legendary franchise, is about to get a major shake-up. While Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl made valiant strides in 2025, a new contender has since emerged, promising to blend the best ideas from its predecessors while forging its own unique path. Warner Bros. Games and Player First Games are preparing to launch MultiVersus, a title that aims to address long-standing genre conventions with a fresh, focused, and accessible approach. This isn't just another brawler; it's a calculated evolution designed for the modern gaming landscape of 2026, learning from the past to build a more inclusive and dynamic future for party fighters.

multiversus-the-next-evolution-in-platform-fighters-arrives-image-0

🆓 A Truly Free-to-Play Foundation

One of the most significant departures from tradition is MultiVersus's core business model. The game will be completely free-to-play upon its 2026 launch. This includes access to all base game modes, core features, and crucially, free updates and new fighters. This model demolishes the initial paywall, instantly opening the doors to a massive audience. It stands in stark contrast to the premium pricing of its predecessors and represents a confident move into the contemporary games-as-a-service arena. Of course, this model raises questions about monetization. The developers have indicated that cosmetic items, like alternate character costumes, will be available, potentially through a battle pass or direct purchase system. The key promise, however, is that gameplay-affecting content like new characters will remain accessible to all players without additional cost, ensuring a level playing field.

✨ A Curated, All-Star Cast with Authentic Voices

Instead of overwhelming players with a cast of nearly 100 characters, MultiVersus is launching with a tight, focused roster. This intentional design choice makes character mastery more approachable and meaningful. Each fighter is designed with distinct personality and mechanics, encouraging players to deeply learn their chosen hero rather than skim the surface of dozens. But the roster's quality doesn't stop at gameplay design.

multiversus-the-next-evolution-in-platform-fighters-arrives-image-1

Where MultiVersus truly shines is in its commitment to authenticity. Every character is brought to life by their original voice actors, a feature sorely missed in some previous challengers. The confirmed cast is a who's who of voice acting legends:

  • Batman voiced by the late, great Kevin Conroy 🦇

  • Jake the Dog voiced by John DiMaggio 🐶

  • Shaggy voiced by Matthew Lillard 😱

  • Bugs Bunny & Tom and Jerry voiced by Eric Bauza 🐰🐭

  • Harley Quinn voiced by Tara Strong 🤡

This dedication injects an incredible amount of personality and credibility into every match, making the chaotic collisions of these iconic characters feel genuinely epic.

🌐 Cross-Platform Play Unites Everyone

A major historical limitation for the genre has been platform exclusivity. MultiVersus shatters that barrier by launching simultaneously on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and last-gen consoles. More importantly, it features full cross-platform play and cross-progression. This means friends can battle together regardless of their chosen hardware, and player progress carries over seamlessly. This feature is a game-changer, virtually guaranteeing a large, healthy, and united online community from day one, ensuring you can always find a match or team up with friends.

🤝 Teamwork Makes The Dream Work: The 2v2 Focus

MultiVersus isn't just porting old ideas to new platforms; it's innovating core gameplay. The game places a heavy emphasis on 2v2 team brawls, encouraging coordination and synergy between characters. Each fighter has a unique moveset that includes special abilities designed to aid their teammate.

multiversus-the-next-evolution-in-platform-fighters-arrives-image-2

For example:

  • Batman can deploy smoke bombs to obscure ally movements.

  • Bugs Bunny can dig tunnels for his team to traverse the stage unexpectedly.

This team-oriented design opens up a deep layer of strategic depth, moving beyond simple one-on-one duels to create chaotic, cooperative, and highly replayable encounters. Imagine the possibilities: Shaggy and Batman working in tandem, or Harley Quinn causing chaos while Arya Stark goes in for the finishing blow!

🚀 Built for the Future

By combining these key features—a free-to-play model, a curated and authentically voiced roster, universal cross-play, and innovative team-based combat—MultiVersus is positioned not just to compete, but to define the next era of platform fighters. It addresses the bloat of its predecessors while adding the polish and connectivity that modern gamers expect. In 2026, the stage is set for a new king of the crossover brawl, and MultiVersus is ready to throw down.

Critical reviews are presented by OpenCritic, a trusted source for aggregated game scores and professional opinions. OpenCritic's platform provides a comprehensive overview of how new releases like MultiVersus are received by critics, highlighting the impact of features such as cross-platform play and authentic voice acting on overall player satisfaction and genre innovation.