If Marvel Heroes were to be revived, choosing the right studio would be crucial for its success. Here are some considerations and potential studios:
: Known for their expertise in creating engaging action RPGs like Diablo, Blizzard could bring a similar depth and polish to Marvel Heroes. Their experience with large-scale online games like World of Warcraft would also be beneficial.
: Blizzard's focus on their existing IPs might limit their interest in taking on a new project like Marvel Heroes.
: With a strong background in RPGs and a history of handling large franchises (e.g., Final Fantasy), Square Enix could leverage their expertise to enhance the storytelling and gameplay of Marvel Heroes.
: Their current focus on other major IPs might divert resources away from a revived Marvel Heroes.
: Gearbox has shown its ability to handle action RPGs with Borderlands, and their experience with cooperative gameplay could enhance the multiplayer aspects of Marvel Heroes.
: Their recent projects have been more focused on first-person shooters, so adapting to a different genre might require some adjustments.
: Known for their work on fighting games like Mortal Kombat, NetherRealm could bring a unique combat style to Marvel Heroes, potentially integrating elements of their fighting games into the action RPG format.
: Their expertise is primarily in fighting games, which might not directly translate to an action RPG.
: As a studio behind successful action-adventure games like Tomb Raider, Crystal Dynamics could bring a strong narrative focus and engaging gameplay mechanics to Marvel Heroes.
: Their experience with single-player focused games might require adjustments to handle a large-scale online game.
: Although they were initially involved with the canceled Marvel Universe Online, Cryptic Studios have since developed successful MMOs like Star Trek Online and Champions Online. Their experience with superhero-themed games could be valuable.
: Their past involvement and the reasons for the cancellation of Marvel Universe Online might complicate their return to the project.
: As a publisher and developer of several successful MMOs, Perfect World Entertainment could handle the online aspects and free-to-play model of Marvel Heroes effectively.
: Their focus has been more on traditional MMOs rather than action RPGs.
Ultimately, the best studio would depend on the specific vision for the revived game. If the focus is on maintaining a strong action RPG feel with deep character customization and a large online community, Blizzard Entertainment or Gearbox Software might be ideal choices. If the goal is to emphasize storytelling and single-player elements alongside multiplayer, Crystal Dynamics could be a good fit. However, any studio chosen would need to secure the necessary licensing agreements with Disney and Marvel Games, which could be a significant hurdle111.