Fantastic Four: First Steps is one of the most highly-anticipated blockbusters this Summer. The cape flick has more or less been shouldered with the responsibility of upholding the entire MCU, much like Superman (2025) was for the DCU. It should be no surprise then, that game devs have seemingly turned Fantastic Four: First Steps crossovers into a top priority.
Despite the MCU being on relatively rocky ground, Marvel seems to be approaching its heyday as far as gaming is concerned. Sony’s Spider-Man franchise was the main thing going for Marvel for quite some time, but newer releases have broken new ground. Marvel Rivals has undoubtedly been the standout of the bunch, so it’s all too fitting that its First Steps crossover should stand out as well.
Marvel Rivals’ Fantastic Four: First Steps Crossover is a Game-Changer
For being as saturated as it is, the hero shooter genre isn’t exactly easy to break into. Marvel Rivals had a head start thanks to being rooted in such a widely beloved and recognizable IP. However, this alone wouldn’t have been enough to keep players coming back. One way that the developers at NetEase has managed to help Marvel Rivals feel fresh is through the advent of the Team-Up mechanic.
Team-Ups are unique abilities shared between specific characters, which often incentivizes unique team compositions. They allow for fun character interactions, but also carry the potential to be completely meta-defining. To celebrate the release of Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel Rivals is adding a new Team-Up in reference to the film; the aptly named “First Steps” Team-Up.
First Steps uses Human Torch as the so-called “anchor” character, and allows him to carry The Thing into the air. After flying around for a bit, Human Torch can then hurl The Thing back down, damaging enemies and temporarily disabling their mobility abilities. This is remarkable not for its effect on the meta, but more for the presumed development time it must have taken to implement.
By contrast, the other main element of Marvel Rivals‘ crossover with First Steps is a skin line. Of course it’s a skin line, this is a hero shooter we’re talking about. Each member of The Fantastic Four will receive a skin that resembles their appearance in First Steps, with the main appeal presumably being queuing up for matches as the spitting image of Pedro Pascal.
Marvel Snap’s Fantastic Four: First Steps Crossover Has Fans Divided
In God’s gift to Pedro stans, Marvel Rivals isn’t the only game getting this treatment. In fact, Marvel Snap is already knee deep in its own crossover with Fantastic Four: First Steps. Marvel Snap‘s current season is entirely modeled after the upcoming MCU movie, with “Mr. Fantastic: First Steps” being named as this month’s Season Pass card.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows in Marvel Snap‘s neck of the woods. The cards being released have been fairly well received, but they’ve brought along their fair share of controversy as well. For the first time, Marvel Snap has included an additional card as a reward for purchasing the “Premium Season Pass”.
This card, The Fantasticar, is a solid engine for a very powerful deck. Each card released this season is meant to have synergy with one another, being Marvel’s First Family and all, and The Fantasticar improves that synergy significantly. This has led to no small amount of fan outcry, with many accusing the game of leaning into pay-to win mechanics.
Worse still, there has yet to be much in the way of back and forth communication. Developers have released statements about the controversy, but they often create more questions than answers. Players have continued to demand that the response be more transparent, or at least less cryptic. Whatever the case, one should still keep an eye on how the game develops in response to this feedback; whether this will be an opportunity for Marvel Snap to salvage good will, or drive it further into question.
