Marvel’s Avengers debuted at the top of September’s video game sales charts, dethroning Madden NFL 21, according to the NPD Group. Crystal Dynamics’ live-service superhero brawler had a lukewarm critical reception but hit the top of the sales charts nonetheless, ranking #7 on the year-to-date chart as well.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars debuted at #2, but its digital sales were not included in NPD’s figures. Madden NFL 21 fell to #3, while Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 and NBA 2K21 debuted at fourth and fifth respectively.
Crystal Dynamics also provided an update on the game’s future today. Among tweaks and new content, Head of Studio Scot Amos broke the news that the first post-launch character for Marvel’s Avenger’s has been postponed. Kate Bishop was meant to be added sometime this month but has been delayed “out of October.” Bishop’s Operation is meant to kick off a new postgame storyline which will continue with the addition of Clint Barton. In 2021, “the biggest Avengers Initiative addition yet will introduce a new Hero, region, and narrative arc.”
“Moving forward, we intend to have a fixed, predictable patching cycle to ensure all new content meets both our and your high standards and has time for extensive internal testing,” Amos wrote. “We know fans are hungry for new content, but delivering a fun experience is our priority.”
Amos added that the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S launches have been delayed into 2021 so the team can continue to optimize the experience for next-gen hardware. Early adopters can still play the game on their new systems via backward compatibility, by inserting the disc or redownloading.
