Speaking to this week, Game Studios boss has confirmed what was already rumoured, namely that the publisher have pulled the plug on their forthcoming Universe title.

Kim reveals that Microsoft and Marvel opted to axe the title because of doubts about the subscription-based business model planned, the firms fearing the title wouldn't attract enough paying customers, while it was too late in the game's to look at alternative models, such as micro-transactions, advertising, etc.

"I'll confirm. Marvel and we have agreed to end development on the MMO. It was an amicable decision," Shane Kim revealed to MTV Multiplayer.

"When we first entered into the development and agreement of the development of Marvel Universe Online, we thought we would create another subscription-based MMO. And if you really look at the data there's basically one that's successful and everything else wouldn't meet our level or definition of commercial success.

"And then you have to look: Can we change the business model for that? Is that really viable given how far we are in development? And so forth. Does Marvel want to do that? There's a whole bunch of factors," he explained.

City of Heroes dev were in charge of this previously, with releases on the and planned.

By Luke Guttridge