Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics have announced that the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of Marvel’s Avengers has been delayed to sometime in 2021. They were previously slated to release on the launch day of both respective consoles.

However, players will still technically be able to play Marvel’s Avengers on the PS5 and Xbox Series X via their PS4 and Xbox One versions (backwards compatibility). Doing so will better frame rates and faster loading times, but the true next-gen versions will not be arriving until 2021.

The first post-launch playable hero, Kate Bishop, has also been delayed from her initial October 2020 debut to an unspecified release date or window.

What’s up with all the delays? Well, according to the official blog post:

Marvel’s Avengers’ launch was not without turbulence, and we recognize that a number of issues detracted from your enjoyment of the game.

This does not align with Crystal Dynamics’ value of craftsmanship, and for that, we sincerely apologize.

Over the past weeks, our team around the world has been heads down fixing bugs and tuning key gameplay systems guided in part by your feedback.

Since launch, we’ve released rapid updates to address these bugs, improve game stability, and refine our matchmaking system.

While our work is never done, these fixes and additions have made improvements to the overall player experience.

In the coming months, the development team is planning to add and introduce the following features to Marvel’s Avengers:

• Avengers Initiative Ping System: A system that will allow players to mark objectives, resources, health crates, and enemies, allowing players to command AI companions to hack/smash doors or prioritize specific enemies.             
• Reassemble Campaign Replay: An option to reset the Reassemble campaign and replay it with your Super Hero’s level and gear intact.             
• High Contrast Mode: An accessibility feature that will allow the player to apply solid darken veils behind text to improve readability.            
• Hero Icon Visibility: An option to adjust the display of identifying icons above a Super Hero’s head to be on by default or dynamic.            
• Mission Reward Clarity: Improved clarity around mission-specific rewards when viewed on the WAR TABLE. This will allow players to more strategically take on missions to meet their current goals and seek out specific gear and resources.            
• Offscreen & Ranged Enemy Attack Indicators: Better feedback for players to avoid offscreen and ranged enemy attacks.

Malaysia-based CGI art and animation studio Lemon Sky Studios also contributed to the development of Marvel’s Avengers. In the meantime, check out our review of the game here.