Although the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going through a rough patch, its influence on entertainment remains undeniable. For over a decade, it not only led the box office but also established the model for interconnected franchises, a concept that the gaming industry once sought to replicate.
The comic book giant is no stranger to video games. Over the years, numerous titles have brought its legendary heroes and villains to life, from Marvel’s Spider-Man by Insomniac Games to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy by Eidos-Montreal.
Unlike the MCU, however, these games do not share a connected narrative—each project exists in its own separate universe. That’s why it’s fascinating to discover that, even before the MCU was created, there were discussions about developing a cohesive game franchise.
During a recent episode of The Fourth Curtain podcast, Bungie co-founder Alexander Seropian and acclaimed writer Alex Irvine—who has contributed to multiple Marvel projects, including Marvel Rivals—reminisced about a joint venture that never came to be—an interwoven game world, much like what we now know as the MCU.
“When I first started working on Marvel games, there was this idea that they were going to create a gaming universe that was going to exist in the same way that the MCU did,” Irvine stated.
Seropian, who led Disney’s gaming division until 2012, revealed that the concept was his initiative, but it never took off due to lack of support from higher executives.
“That was so frustrating because we came up with all these great ideas about how to do it,” Irvine added.
But why weren’t Disney’s top executives enthusiastic about it? According to Seropian, the concept became so intricate that it eventually led to hesitation at the highest levels.
“Even back then we were trying to figure it out. ‘If we’re going to have this MGU, how will it be different from the comics and the movies? How are we going to decide if it stays consistent?’ I think some of those questions got complex enough that there were people at Disney who didn’t really want to deal with them.”
Upcoming Avengers films could bring new video game tie-ins for fans to enjoy
Thinking about what the MGU could have looked like is intriguing. Marvel’s current approach to gaming remains fragmented, with upcoming titles like Black Panther by Cliffhanger Games and Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra by Skydance serving as standalone projects, each with its own narrative.
Even though the MGU never happened, future Avengers films could still get their own video game tie-ins. In a recent interview, the Russo brothers expressed interest in producing and developing projects based on the upcoming Avengers movies. Meanwhile, DC Studios—under director James Gunn—is actively exploring ways to connect its movies with video games.
Would you have liked to see the MGU? Tell us in the comments—we’d love to hear your thoughts.