Will MultiVersus come to Switch? Everything we know
Has MultiVersus dodged the Nintendo Switch?
MultiVersus has returned to consoles and PC this week, with thousands of players picking the game up again after its open beta period ended last year - but does that include Nintendo Switch owners?
The Warner Bros-made game seems like a perfect title to be played on a Nintendo Switch. It is aimed at a family-friendly audience, is filled with characters such as Bugs Bunny and Tom and Jerry and has an overall brightly-coloured, light-hearted vibe.
It’s already available on Xbox X/S, Xbox One, PS5 and 4, as well as PC via Steam and the Epic Games store, but where do Nintendo owners sit with Warner Bros Games’ latest?
Read on to find out more.
Is MultiVersus on Switch at launch?
Unfortunately, MultiVersus is not on Switch at launch.
The game was fully released on 28th May 2024, and is currently available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam and the Epic Games store.
It can even run on last-generation consoles including PS4 and Xbox One, but it is noticeably absent from Nintendo’s console.
MultiVersus also has full crossplay support, so it doesn’t matter if you own a PS5 and your friends have an Xbox, you’ll still be able to fight them in this over-the-top brawler online.
But what about Switch owners? Will they ever get a chance to play the game on their console?
Will MultiVersus come to Switch later?
As it stands, it is unlikely that MultiVersus will be released on Nintendo Switch at a later date. There are multiple reasons that this is looking like the probable outcome.
Firstly, back in 2021, before MultiVersus was released, a user on social media website X, formerly Twitter, asked Tony Huynh, the game’s director, if MultiVersus would ever come out on Nintendo’s console.
He replied: "I understand, it’s a hard decision for us not to launch on the Switch, but we have limited resources and had to pick where to use those resources in the short-term.
"We want to enable as many players as possible to play and enjoy our game."
Huynh’s comments could have been in relation to the Switch’s power limitations.
The full version of MultiVersus now uses Unreal Engine 5 to run (the beta previously used UE4), and so it is possible Warner Bros did not want to allocate extra resources to design a version of the game that the Switch was capable of handling.
Secondly, competition could be a factor here. This is speculative, but MultiVersus is a platform brawler seemingly inspired by Super Smash Bros Ultimate, which is one the most popular (and best) games on the Switch. There is a good chance that many players that already own Smash Bros are unlikely to move across to MultiVersus.
Lastly, MultiVersus has been released twice now - once in a beta period and the second as a full game - and both times, the Switch has been bypassed.
This leads us to conclude that a Nintendo release for MultiVersus is not in Warner Bros Games' plans at the moment. That might change once a new generation Switch console is released, but for that we’ll just have to wait and see.
What games like MultiVersus can you play on Switch?
Just because MultiVersus isn’t coming out on Switch anytime soon, that doesn’t mean owners can’t play other platform brawlers. Here are a few recommended ones available on Nintendo Switch.
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
The original and most popular platform brawler, Smash Bros is a staple title on the Switch and features many of Nintendo’s most beloved characters - such as Mario, Yoshi and Link - who duel it out on a variety of beautifully designed levels.
A mention must go to the soundtrack, which collects tunes from the likes of Super Mario Bros 3, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Donkey Kong Country.
Brawlhalla
Ubisoft’s fighter is, like MultiVersus, free to play and boasts a cartoonish art style that makes it very distinctive. Brawlhalla is also known for its ever-growing list of characters and crossover events that includes Assassin’s Creed’s Ezio, WWE legend The Undertaker and Halo’s Master Chief.
A bonus here is that it’s available on mobile devices, as well as consoles and PC.
Nickelodeon All Star Brawl 2
If you’ve ever wanted to see SpongeBob SquarePants fight Jimmy Neutron, or Garfield take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Donatello, then Nickelodeon All Star Brawl 2 is the fighter for you.
It’ll bring back a wave of nostalgia for anyone who grew up in the '90s and early '00s too.
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Authors
Joshua Lamb is a freelance writer at Radio Times Gaming, covering news and guides. He is also a games journalist and critic at The Times where he reviews the latest titles, having also previously reported on events such as Gamescom and the BAFTA Game Awards.
