There is no debate more heated in any fandom than, "Who would win between [fill in the blank]." Fortunately, for comic book fans and gamers alike, the framework is already in place to settle this timeless discussion with the likes of Mortal Kombat, Marvel vs. Capcom, and Injustice. All that's needed is to bring these star-studded rosters together for the be-all and end-all fighting game.
These franchises and others have routinely pulled in characters from various universes to create more robust match-ups, with cameos from Darth Vader to Rambo to Solid Snake. The Marvel vs. Capcom series, of course, is already a cross-over game, with its first entry dating back to 1996, and NetherRealm Studios handles both the DC properties and Mortal Kombat. So, bringing together all four rosters would only take two studios collaborating, and could make for one of the most anticipated games ever.
The debate between Marvel and DC characters is one of the oldest and most contested. Few fanbases are as large and long-lasting as that of the comic book world, and even fewer are more devoted. For years members of these fandoms have argued which character or group is better, stronger, more dangerous. and so on. With the expansion of the internet that discussion has moved online, with massive communities coming together on forums to analyze and scrutinize the entire dispute. Given the expansive amount of information and history available on all these characters fans can make in-depth explanations of who's better or worse, and even build full ranked superhero and villain comparison lists to prove it.
DC vs MK vs Marvel vs Capcom Could Be Bigger Than The MCU
Video game characters, such as those from Capcom franchises and Mortal Kombat, may be younger, but that certainly limits neither their support nor the character's actual abilities in the debate of who is more powerful. Fighting games in particular lead to power rankings, as the character's statistics and playability directly affect the game itself. No one loads up Mortal Kombat to play as Bo' Rai Cho instead of Raiden, unless they're intentionally looking for a laugh by vomiting all over the floor. While there are fan-favorite characters that players enjoy because of particular playstyle or aesthetic, which is especially true in regards to the Capcom characters in the Marvel vs. Capcom series, the primary factor in picking a character is still who give the player the best chance to win.
The fanbase of any one of these franchises alone is considerable, but combing all four would likely make the MCU following pale in comparison, which would mean having to make a sizeable roster to accommodate. Fighting games have come a long ways from the Street Fighter debut of only a handful of characters, and now rosters can reach the dozens with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate recently adding its 78th fighter. Compiling a group of 60 or so fighters pulled from each of the franchises at launch could easily include enough characters from each to give fans enough variety, and that could easily be expanded considerably with DLC.
With notable fans still wanting more Marvel vs. Capcom despite the franchise's latest underwhelming title and teases of an eventual Injustice 3, there is plenty of demand to go around for all these franchises. Admittedly, there are no shortage of obstacles impeding this game's creation. Roster selection alone would be a massive undertaking, and Mortal Kombat would have to sacrifice the gore for which it is so well-known. Building the team between NetherRealm and Capcom would be tricky to say the least, and the logistics of creative rights between the properties would be a large hurdle. It is a hurdle, though, that needs to be cleared so fans can have the DC vs. Marvel vs. Capcom vs. Mortal Kombat title they so deeply deserve.