Marvel Contest of Champions has been around for over a decade, and with that it’s help build what audiences think about when they play games based on Marvel superheros. Now, the hit mobile game is on Steam, and there couldn’t be a more perfect time to meet new audiences.
Developed by Kabam and published by Raw Thrills, Marvel Contest of Champions is a superhero fighting game that lets players be their favorite heroes, meet original Kabam characters, and tackle their own “who would win” conversations in a match.
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The Steam version offers the classic arcade experience of modern combat games, with full HD & 60FPS, and overhauled UI to optimize the game for the PC platform. Additionally, Marvel Contest of Champions has the necessary cross-play functionality, and plvayers can start the game on one platform and then pick up their progress on the other. On top of that new events and stories will be released each month, and the game will continue to grow its expansive roster of 300+ Champions to collect and rank up.
For the game’s Steam launch, we spoke with Kabam Senior Producer Charles Busch and Principal Creative Writer
Tyler Nicol about their time developing the game, what they’ve enjoyed the most, and ultimately, what it has meant to be a part of the Marvel legacy as game developers.
This interview with Kabam developers on Marvel Contest of Champions and its Steam launch was conducted via email.
BUT WHY THO: Marvel Contest of Champions has been around for a decade. That’s not something that every game can say. Still, launching on Steam opens it up to a whole new audience. What was important about bringing the title to PC?
CHARLES BUSCH: Well, that’s exactly it, opening up the game to new audiences. If you’re someone who games a lot on mobile, you’ve probably at least heard of Marvel Contest of Champions. If you primarily game on PC, you may have never heard of our game before. Going cross-platform allows us to reach even more Marvel fans, as well as give our existing fans more ways to play.
BUT WHY THO: What was the largest challenge of bringing Marvel Contest to Champions to PC? By the same token, what was the biggest joy?
CHARLES BUSCH: Marvel Contest of Champions has been running for over 10 years now. Which means 10 years of Champions, content, features, and more to consider when making a PC version. So one of our biggest challenges was making controls work on a controller, keyboard and mouse; without disrupting the mobile experience. That said, something that shone through even from the early days was how good Marvel Contest of Champions feels to play on a controller. It was also great to see all the crazy controllers people dusted off to play with (dancepads, bongos, etc.).
BUT WHY THO: How do you balance creating a great experience on PC and maintaining support for mobile players?
CHARLES BUSCH: We’ve supported multiple platforms for a long time – iOS and Android, mobile phones and tablets. We view the PC as just another platform we’re supporting going forward. Everything we build in the future will keep both mobile and PC experiences in mind. Play where you want, how you want – you’ll get the same great Marvel Contest of Champions experience everywhere.
BUT WHY THO: People obviously love Marvel heroes, and Marvel Contest of Champions has over 300 characters now. Now that PC is bringing it to new players, what do you think they will find unique about Marvel Contest of Champions regarding the heroes they get to meet and explore? What helps differentiate the versions of the characters we will see in Marvel Contest of Champions compared to others, if any?
CHARLES BUSCH: We have one of the deepest Marvel character rosters out there. From iconic MCU favorites, to comic deepcuts, to our own original characters; we have something for everyone. Each character has their own unique abilities and play style, and mastering new Champions is at the heart of what makes this
game special.
TYLER NICHOL: Something I really enjoy about The Contest of Champions is the unifying style our art team gives to all the Champions that find their way to The Battlerealm. Where else can you find a film-accurate Yondu whistling his arrow against a re-imagined Venom the Duck (a corrupted Howard the Duck piloting a fleshy symbiote mech)? The cinematic specials of the Champions really let them shine with moves and moments that stick with you. There are little beats of comedy, action, horror, and adventure played out in each and every fight that really makes the battle feel alive.
BUT WHY THO: Marvel Contest of Champions’ original characters have also found fans among mobile players. Are there any in particular that you’re excited for people to experience for the first time?
CHARLES BUSCH: Our latest original characters are the Eidols – beings originally created by The Founders who have returned to The Battlerealm to seize control. Isophyne and Lumatrix are not only visually stunning and powerful characters, but have access to a new gameplay mechanic called the Fractured Power Bar, which lets you pull off unique gameplay loops you couldn’t do before.
TYLER NICHOL: I’m a big fan of the Runaways comics and I was so happy to have more people meet Nico and Karolina this month. While that comic has had a 20+ year history so far, I know our game will be some fan’s first interaction with these astonishing heroes. Our art team, as always, did such a great job bringing them to life and our Character Design Team put no shortage of adoration into making their moves unique and exciting. Finding new corners of the Marvel universe to highlight each month is such a treat.
BUT WHY THO: How does it feel as developers to contribute to the Marvel legacy and to the American myths in the process?
CHARLES BUSCH: I think it’s an incredible honor to work on a franchise as rich and deep as Marvel. The characters I fell in love with from comics and cartoons as a kid, I’m able to help bring them to life in a new way for a new generation, and that’s incredibly rewarding. It’s a passing of a torch, the sharing of a story – and in return the passion of our players that makes this all worthwhile.
TYLER NICHOL: Honestly and truly, I cannot understate how much joy I feel when one of our players reposts a moment from the story or engages with us online to talk about the world we’ve made. What a treat it is to be bringing joy and excitement to players worldwide while being handed this big sandbox of beloved toys to play with. Saying “I write jokes for Spider-Man” or “I helped make that Fantastic Four trailer” feels surreal even after 7+ years with this company. It is a task done with a lot of love, and no shortage of glee.
Marvel Contest of Chamoions is available now on Steam and mobile platforms.
