EA-Marvel brawler KO'd

Multiyear licensing agreement for fighting games follows development studio EA Chicago into the abyss.

When EA Chicago was closed last year, one of the issues unaddressed at the time was the fate of the studio's projects, a Marvel fighting game and a second fighter based on a new intellectual property. That mystery has been cleared up a little, as Electronic Arts and Marvel have terminated both the project and their licensing agreement, according to a GameTap report.

The deal between Marvel and EA dates back to 2004, when the companies announced a multiyear agreement for fighting games featuring famous Marvel characters alongside new EA-created heroes. The first offspring of the deal was Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects, a poorly received effort that saw its price slashed by 40 percent less than two months after its release.

Another mystery in the wake of the EA Chicago closing--the future of the studio's general manager, Kudo Tsunoda--was recently solved when Microsoft confirmed the developer's hiring. Tsunoda will now work at Microsoft Game Studios under corporate vice president Shane Kim. However, a growing tide of unconfirmed reports has Microsoft's own Marvel project--an Xbox 360 and PC massively multiplayer online role-playing game--being put on indefinite hold.

[UPDATE]: A representative with Electronic Arts confirmed the deal's demise for GameSpot, saying, "EA and Marvel have jointly agreed to discontinue development of the Marvel titles under the EA Games Label." As for why, the rep only said it was a business decision made based on EA's portfolio strategy.

115 Comments

  • starduke

    Posted Feb 10, 2009 8:50 am GMT

    So, that's what happend to this game. They canceled it. What's with marvel? They seem to keep canceling games that may have been great. I just hope they don't end up canceling the new Wolvie game too.

  • kev1000

    Posted Jul 9, 2008 9:48 pm GMT

    Too bad but someones will create the ultimate marvel fighting game some day but now i stick with the 2d marvel vs capcom games for now

  • guile_charlie

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 11:09 am GMT

    Hmmm.....Marvel Lisence up for grabs, huh? MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3 ANYONE?!

    Also, shallam.

    As far as whether or not MVC was good depends on the individual's opinion.

    Most of the fighting game comunity hails Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 as the best fighting game ever made by Capcom (or otherwise) at least in the Vs. Series of games, I am one of those people.

    Did you like Street Fighter Alpha, and if you did, would you play it if they included marvel characters with all their signiture moves and over the top action, plus the ability to pull off air combos like in X-Men Next Demention, but have more control over what you do in the air?

  • leofiregod

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 8:54 pm GMT

    That really sucks. I'd seen shots of this game on you.tube that were from some game show. It looked really awesome.

  • Theaterguy916

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 11:00 pm GMT

    Rise of the Imperfects was such a fun game, I was really hoping they would bring out another one like it. Bummer.

  • shallam

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 6:06 pm GMT

    I think I'm the only person who liked EA's Rise of the Imperfects. I was really looking forward to a Next Gen all Marvel fighting game. Isn't that what made/makes comics great? The battle scenes?

    I wish someone would pick up this idea. BTW, i never played it; was Marvel vs. CAPCOM that good?

  • paladinzio

    Posted Feb 8, 2008 10:08 am GMT

    *taps CAPCOM on the shoulder* look, get the V.S series back into gear, bastard

  • Maxx_the_Slash

    Posted Feb 2, 2008 1:26 pm GMT

    I truely hope Capcom picks up the Marvel liscence again. I ****ing want them to reissue copies of Marvel VS. Capcom 2 for the Xbox, because the ones out there now are going for an ungodly $70 for a USED copy.

  • badman11226

    Posted Jan 30, 2008 9:08 am GMT

    Is it me or EA is just plain Garbage. Marvel and EA was a horrible combination. It was just a failure. Marvel and EA is like Mike Tyson and Robin Gibbens just outright embarrassing. Now they finally split up its time for Marvel and Capcom to get remarried and like this board says Make us some MVC 3 please" :-)

  • rocktenda

    Posted Jan 30, 2008 8:18 am GMT

    Wake up CAPCOM AND MARVEL!!!!!! we need you to get back together....

  • Wingzero123

    Posted Jan 30, 2008 7:07 am GMT

    If they do make a MVC3 they need to make the characters balanced this time also establish better music. I got sick of that music. Also make some characters fight like the way they are in the marvel shows and comic books.

  • zombey1333

    Posted Jan 30, 2008 4:53 am GMT

    Marvel should have stuck with Capcom. Capcom had made several games for them on the SNES, as well as the VS series. All of the games spit out from the license were quite enjoyable. I can't really say much for anything that's come afterwards, though.

  • Ra-Devil

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 9:31 pm GMT

    MVC 3 would be the mother of all fighting games. Why did Marvel and Capcom go their seperate ways again? I never got the whole story. O'well, too bad. I'd like to see something cool come around though, and I really don't think the whole Marvel Ultimae Alliance style is a good idea. I really didn't like those games.

  • FreddieGermany

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 9:21 pm GMT

    good the game would of sucked

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 8:50 pm GMT

    D@rn, i love a good marvel game but suprisingly capcom is the only one that makes good marvel titles thank you, like say Marvel Vs. Capcom 1&2, classic stuff, or the 2d xmen fighter they made. stuff i'll never forget.

  • club-sandwich

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 8:26 pm GMT

    omg capcom better gets the marvel franchise again, I really want MVC 3.

  • psychojosh

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 7:46 pm GMT

    "I want a remake of marvel vs capcom + Marvel vs capcom 2 on the wii with classic and gamecube controls"

    ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!!! a game like MVC would be absolutely terrible on the wii, bring it to the consoles where it belongs like 360 and PS3 but don't even consider bringing it to the wii because playing a game like that on gamecube controllers would be bad enough, let alone playing it with wii controllers

    Anyways, yes... MARVEL VS CAPCOM 3, DEAR GOD YES!!!! PLEASE GET BACK TOGETHER YOU GUYS!!! Your companies make such beautiful music together!!!

  • Solidesnake2004

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 6:50 pm GMT

    MVC3 is a great way for Marvel to have a comback with capcom..... i want to see a MVCVSNK....NOW THAT WOULD BE A GAME!!!!!......MVC3!!!!

  • clawboy

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 4:24 pm GMT

    I really wanted to play that game. Oh well.

  • ise1880

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 3:04 pm GMT

    dam thats too bad. i remember seeing gameply footage of this game on rob and big. oh well

  • maaly81

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 2:36 pm GMT

    TrueIori

    Marvel vs Capcom 3 that all i got to say

    You took the words right outta my mouth. I have been waiting for that game to be announced since Dreamcast stop making games. I actually pulled the Cast out a couple of weeks ago and played MArvel vs. Capcom 2. Great game. EA is horrible

  • Diernes

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 2:06 pm GMT

    Good, give the license back to capcom, or at least a developer that knows how to make fighters...

  • TrueIori

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 2:03 pm GMT

    Marvel vs Capcom 3 that all i got to say

  • retrofraction12

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 1:57 pm GMT

    I want a remake of marvel vs capcom + Marvel vs capcom 2 on the wii with classic and gamecube controls

  • RufustheSage

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 1:38 pm GMT

    Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Marvel vs Capcom 2 for the Playstation Store and XBL Arcade!!! COME ON MARVEL AND CAPCOM GET OFF YOUR ASS!!!!

  • majestikk

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 1:20 pm GMT

    Why waste time making Marvel face EA created generic heroes?! I mean the only game that makes sense is MARVEL VS CAPCOM 3!!! Keep it FAST, 3 vs 3, 2D and just BOOST up the ROSTER! Give us this game PLEASE!

  • DMC2677

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 1:20 pm GMT

    Come on Capcom...we're practically drooling over the mere prospect of the 3rd MvC!!!! I do see some points with what WeWerePirates was saying, but you gotta admit, with Marvel going back with Capcom, it's a no-brainer what project's coming next....

    MvC3...MvC3...MvC3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 12:37 pm GMT

    Haha EA lost big! Marvel Nemesis: Rise of Imperfects wasnt terrible. It just wasn't 4 player.

    WE NEED MARVEL VS. DC!!!

  • dante_nero360

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 12:28 pm GMT

    MARVEL v. CAPCOM 3!!!!!!!!! come on give the fans what they want

  • Mcortijo01

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 12:03 pm GMT

    Sweet!! That's one less franchise EA won't be destroying.

  • ssj4gogetarocks

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 11:28 am GMT

    Can we PLEASE GET MARVEL VS CAPCOM 3!!!!! I BEG OF YOU GAMING GODS!!!!

  • WeWerePirates

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 10:39 am GMT

    When marvel made a deal with Capcom they went to the best in fighting games at the time. When they went to EA they went to a financial juggernaut (not Juggernaut) of the industry but with no record on fighting games. Personally I think Nemesis was a brave effort if not entirely perfect. Now I think there are several likely options.

    1. Scrap their fighting game line for now, They've got plenty of other things going on in terms of games. most likely I think
    2. Go with an existing partner
    3. Form a partnership with a company which is a current leader in fighting games. (Namco, Tecmo, Sega I suppose)
    4. Make a deal with another big company, unlikely

    Sega fits the bill on 2 and 3.

    I don't list Capcom because their fighting game development is in a funny place. They geared it down and never really transitioned to 3D. They had to build a team to make SF3. Maybe longer term they will be back on track.

    Just my thoughts though.

  • Strike_Zer0

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 10:06 am GMT

    Well that stinks. Since Marvel.com had removed their footage of the game with the closure of the EA studio it seemed pretty obvious that it was dead. A shame since it actually looked like it was gonna be pretty good.

  • Spyhunter_101

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 9:58 am GMT

    MARVEL v. CAPCOM 3!!!!!!!!! come on give the fans what they want

  • jknight5422

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 9:54 am GMT

    Since Marvel is being ditched by Softy & EA, I think Capcom will most likely go back to Marvel & ask to pick up the license. I don't think Marvel has to push the deal to Capcom. Capcom should be running towards it. Perhaps we'll see another Ultimate Alliance sequel as well?

  • Seymour47

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 9:20 am GMT

    The Marvel MMO might be done for, eh? Why am I not surprised. How sad is it when a company having nothing to do with super heros (Cryptic) can make an outstanding MMO, but the original supoer hero creators can't even make a lousy one? It's no wonder they were trying so hard to sue Cryptic and NCsoft. They knew they couldn't make one so they tried to get some quick money out of someone that could.

  • 4themob1

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 8:32 am GMT

    oh yeah! Marvel vs. Capcom would be sweet!

  • GuyverV

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 8:24 am GMT

    i'll throw my hat in this. MARVEL v. CAPCOM 3. let's get dante and viewtiful joe in there for good measure. maybe some power stone characters

  • DMC2677

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 8:19 am GMT

    Alright....say it with me now: "WE WANT MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • twiztdmike

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 7:59 am GMT

    one more vote for marvel vs capcom.

  • pewens

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 7:43 am GMT

    Oh yes, best news of the year so far!!

    Come Capcom you know we want you to make more Marvel games, get that license back!!!!!!!

  • the-obiwan

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 7:14 am GMT

    im agree with kamuifei we need Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

  • Aurey

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 7:11 am GMT

    Well, in first place, Marvel games were nice when Capcom produced them. Since that relationship ended every game sporting the Marvel logo was awful! I Just hope Capcom get the license again.

  • KamuiFei

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 7:04 am GMT

    "new EA-created heroes". Like who? Anyways, Marvel+ EA doesn't add up properly. Stick with Capcom, Marvel. We need Marvel vs. Capcom 3, with Capcom's new heroes and villians.

  • CMakaCreative

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 6:33 am GMT

    jocaju EA su***!! I'm EA free for 3+ years.

    You're so lucky, show me way....Madden & Burnout got me hooooked.

  • Jokul

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 6:08 am GMT

    I didn't think Rise of the Imperfects was that bad, I admit it was cheap but I assumed It had been out for a while

  • jocaju

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 5:54 am GMT

    EA su***!! I'm EA free for 3+ years.

  • Unknown_Legend

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 5:44 am GMT

    Marvel fighting games would be better in 2-D or cell sheded 3-D IMO. All I want is a great Marvel fighting game, we've been long overdue for one.

  • luigigreen

    Posted Jan 29, 2008 5:34 am GMT

    Please, go back to Capcom, Marvel. It's where you belong. Also, here's hoping they put MvC 1 or 2 for XBLA or PSN.

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