Three months ago, popular fighting game Twitch streamer Maximillian Dood announced a Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite fan project that sought to give the once-troubled 7-year-old fighting game a much-needed facelift. Now, not only has the community-driven mode made a ton of progress, but it also has a playable beta that shadow-dropped yesterday.
Maximilian Dood announced his Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite mod, now minted as Marvel Vs Capcom Infinite & Beyond, in a lengthy YouTube video on his channel. In the hour and 46-minute video, Maximilian detailed the mod and its changes in comparison to the game’s original release.
“The only way you can play other people online with these balance changes is if the other person also has it,” Maximilian said in the video.
While the mod is still a ways away from being complete, a beta for the game is available to download on GameBanana. Detailed in the mod’s patch notes are character gameplay changes and a feedback submission form for players to report bugs they encounter. Once the mod is complete, it will be free to download.
There has been alot of confusion of how to install the Balance beta for @MVCI_Beyond . Here is a quick minute video that goes over exactly how to install it! pic.twitter.com/asr6SV6WoB
— Xeno (@Xeno_TG) August 11, 2024
Key changes in the mod include cel-shaded character models and special effects, unique main menu artwork from community artists depicting rivalry interactions, an updated interface with newly drawn character portraits, and music from famed YouTube video game musicians like Alex Moukala and Little V Mills.
“Of all the game directors I’ve had the pleasure to work with you’re one of the best, Max. Hats off to you and the team for having come thus far already, and thank you for having me aboard!” Moukala wrote in a YouTube comment. “Getting to flex my passion for fighting game music on this project is such a fun experience, and doing so alongside Little V is a hell of an icing on the cake.”
@maximiliantiktok Thank you for coming! Here’s an update on Marvel vs Capcom Infinite Beyond: #mvc #marvel #capcom #marvelvscapcom #infinite #beyond #mods #updates #twitch #reaction #yovg #maximiliandood #showcase ♬ original sound – MaximilianDood
Maximilian first announced the mod in May, revealing he had commissioned a fighting game modder named Ryn (@WistfulHopes) to create its new art style. Since starting the project, Maximilian has enlisted the help of Unreal engineer and technical artist Erebus as lead technical developer and Hearthstone proucer Barrett Womack as the mod’s creative producer. At the time, Maximilian revealed that the guiding principle for the mod was to attract players “who adduced their eyes” to Capcom’s crossover fight.
“This is the most active game dev I’ve ever done and it isn’t just me. It’s a lot of people. The budget of this project already at three months has well-passed five figures. It’s one of the most expensive things I’ve ever done,” Maximillian said. “This is a mod that is going to be completely free for everybody that bought MvC: I. We have no plan to sell this. We have no plans to turn it into a product in any way. All it’s going to be is that if you like MvC: I, try it out. Our version one should be available at the end of this year.”
Isaiah Colbert is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow them on Twitter @ShinEyeZehUhh.