MARVEL Cosmic Invasion: Everything We Know

There comes a time when you fantasize about taking down that person or people who serve as a constant nuisance in your life. Having superpowers would easily get the job done. But since we don’t, channelling that anger into the virtual world and beating the crap out of a few villains is a close second. Marvel has contributed greatly to the gaming industry, giving fans a platform to embody their favourite heroes. Once again, they honour that commitment through their new upcoming title, Marvel Cosmic Invasion. Below is everything we know about the title so far. 

What is Marvel Cosmic Invasion?

The title is a beat-'em-up, side-scrolling brawler. It is also a tribute to one of the most iconic eras in Marvel. In it, players dive into a cosmic battle where they fight for the future of the Marvel Universe. You first pick one out of 15 of your favourite horses, including Captain America, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Storm, Phyla-Vell, Venom, and Nova, as your avatar. Afterwards, you navigate several different areas, battling an alien invasion. Like Shredder's Revenge, this title combines modern graphic elements with old-school pixel art that was made popular by the ‘90s Marvel comic books. So far, fans are excited for its release, which promises seamless fighting mechanics and satisfying co-op play. 

Story

The villainous Annihilus, the embodiment of a walking-dead being, has declared war on the cosmos. For him to live, it must fall. He launches an attack across the galaxy that threatens to destroy all life as we know it. However, hope is not lost. Heroes from Earth and the cosmic units will band together to wage war across the stars against the deadly Annihilation Wave. From New York City to the depths of the Negative Zone, they will brawl their way to the heart of Annihilus to stop him from turning the cosmos into one giant graveyard.

Gameplay

In Cosmic Invasion’s gameplay, players will pick and control a team of two superheroes as their protagonists. They then dive into war, tagging between the two characters mid-fight with the Cosmic Swap system. The feature will allow them to make the most out of each of their protagonists’ unique abilities and attacks. Additionally, players can create special combos that help them deal more significant damage to their opponents. Each of the character’s skills contributes towards creative team-ups and delivers a more tactical approach to battle. 

At the beginning of the game, players can play as Captain America, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Storm, Phyla-Vell, Venom, and Nova. However, the game features 15 playable characters; the rest will be revealed later through the game’s development updates. Fans have their fingers crossed for stalwarts like Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther, Hulk, and Black Widow. The game also supports multiplayer mode, holding up to four players locally and online with crossplay. It also has a drop-in and drop-out adaptive system. As you progress, you get to unlock amazing power-ups and rewards in addition to testing out different hero dynamics. 

Development

Dotemu and Tribute Games are the creators of the thrilling new title, Marvel Cosmic Invasion. The developers announced the game on Nintendo Direct in March 2025. It is a retro brawler from the creators of the popular, beloved title TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge. From Dometu’s CEO’s words, this game celebrates a universe that has enthralled the developing team since childhood. Additionally, he stated that being entrusted with this incredible roster is a genuine honor and marks the beginning of a new era for Dotemu’s work with the world’s best entertainment franchises. He added that Cosmic Invasion is truly a lifetime in the making. After witnessing the development of Shredder’s Revenge, Dotemu decided to team up with Tribute Games to create this modern evolution of an arcade-style Marvel action match. 

Tribute Games CEO and co-founder Jean-François Major also expressed his team’s delight in being part of Cosmic Invasion’s development. He explained how the project allowed them to pay homage to the iconic Marvel characters and the classic arcade games that shaped their love for gaming. They also approached this cherished license with the utmost respect, infusing every pixel with the care and passion it deserves. Additionally, he emphasized that his team sets out to modernize and push forward the genre while respecting what made the classics great. He concluded by saying that his team couldn’t ask for better partners at Marvel and Dotemu, who both understand and share their passion and amplify their dream for this project.

Aside from that, the head of Marvel Games had a few words of his own. First, he expressed how privileged they felt to have an opportunity to make games that they find pleasure in playing. He also stated that their team are huge fans of Tribute and Dotemu’s work, so it was inevitable that we’d assemble with them to bring players the ultimate Marvel Beat 'em Up, Marvel Cosmic Invasion. A game that they are beyond thrilled to share with gamers out there. Many fans are holding on to the hope that this new title will find its way to Game Pass at launch. However, developers have yet to confirm this arrangement. 

Trailer

The trailer presents a beautiful hand-drawn animation that mimics the explosive colours featured in the '90s-era Marvel comic books. Additionally, the developers introduced to fans the first set of playable characters, Captain America, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Storm, Phyla-Vell, Venom, and Nova. It reveals the gameplay, showing these heroes uniting to fight against the mighty villain determined to destroy the cosmos. Players will choose their preferred team consisting of two heroes, tagging between them mid-fight. 

Release Date and Platforms

Publisher Dotemu and developer Tribute Games have announced their new upcoming game, Marvel Cosmic Invasion. The game will be released in 2025. However, there is no specific date yet. The game is in development for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox. But Xbox players are still awaiting confirmation on whether it will air on Game Pass. Interested fans can follow up on the development and updates of the game through the game's official Steam page. Alternatively, you can follow their page on its socials.