After years of working with a diverse array of publishers like Activision, Capcom, and Telltale, Marvel is adding a new partnership to its stable. Today the company announced a new deal with Square Enix to create triple-A games from the Marvel franchises, starting with The Avengers.

Square Enix is tapping two of its most accomplished Western developers for the project, with logos for Crystal Dynamics (Tomb Raider) and Eidos Montreal (Deux Ex: Mankind Divided, Thief) both appearing in the teaser trailer. The teaser doesn't reveal any gameplay, but sends the strong suggestion that the first game features Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America, the latter two who eventually spearhead factions in the Civil War dust-up.

The Square Enix press release says, "The Avengers project is being designed for gamers worldwide and will be packed with all the characters, environments, and iconic moments that have thrilled longtime fans of the franchise. Featuring a completely original story, it will introduce a universe gamers can play in for years to come."

The Avengers is just the first of a multi-game partnership. Square Enix says we can expect more information on the projects, including The Avengers, in 2018. To hear more of our speculation and thoughts on the partnership, watch the video below with Matt Miller, Andrew Reiner, and Brian Shea.

Our Take

Seeing heavy hitters like Crystal Dynamics get a chance to work on Marvel properties is exciting for fans of the comics and films. We wonder what this means for the future of both Tomb Raider and Deus Ex. While Tomb Raider continues to perform well, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided struggled to gain traction with gamers despite generally favorable reviews.