Marvel Heroes players are asking for refunds

Some players who sunk money into Marvel Heroes since its release only a few months ago are demanding refunds now the game is being shut down.

Kotaku reports on the case of a player called EITTurtle who has apparently spent in the region of $400 on the game since July. The money allowed him to unlock heroes such as Spider-Man and Captain America – all of which will be lost when the game shuts down in December.

“I know there a lot of hard working players out there that take pride in grinding and spending hours to unlock characters,” EITTurtle said. “I am not one of those people. . . for me, time is money.”

For PC players the pain is less pronounced, as many will have had plenty of opportunity to get their money’s worth from purchases since the game’s 2013 release. For many console players, however, a scant six months play time feels unfair.

Xbox support told EITTurtle that it was awaiting confirmation of how the situation would be handled. Anecdotal evidence suggests that while some players are being told refunds will not be offered, others have been told they can get their money back for purchases made in the last 90 days.

This remains one of the risks of online F2P games, however. Marvel Heroes’ own T&Cs, which are standard for games of this type, clearly state that: “All fees and/or charges incurred by a Gazillion Account Holder through the use of their Gazillion Account are non-refundable except in the following situation: If the Gazillion Account Holder who incurred the subject fees and/or charges can prove that the Gazillion Account Holder has been victimized by identity theft.

“Gazillion may at any time and from time to time revise, supplement, suspend, modify, or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the System (or any part thereof) with or without notice to you, and terminate all licenses granted in these Terms of Service. You agree that neither Gazillion nor any of its affiliates, licensors, agents, or employees is liable to you or any third party for any revision, supplement, suspension, or discontinuation of the System, and termination of any license.”