Marvel Rivals and the MCU Could Be Heading for a Symbiotic Relationship

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 8, 2024 12 Views 8 Min Read
Marvel Rivals and the MCU Could Be Heading for a Symbiotic Relationship



After dominating the comic book movie genre for over a decade, Marvel has entered the hero shooter genre with the long-awaited Marvel Rivals. This game has thrust players into the Marvel universe, put them in the shoes of some of their favorite heroes, and forced them to battle it out in a very Overwatch-like experience. While that blend may sound risky, it seems to have worked fantastically as thousands of players flock to Marvel Rivals. And now that it has built some strong foundations, Marvel has the chance to do something very special here.




It is no secret that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has struggled a bit during the Multiverse Saga. Some of the films have failed to excite the fan base, the Disney Plus shows have proven overwhelming, and various controversies have forced the studio to refocus the entire saga. However, through Marvel Rivals, the studio could right the ship a bit. Not only could it be used as the perfect form of advertising, but the MCU could also capitalize on some of Marvel Rivals‘ most popular aspects going forward.

Official art of the launch roster for Marvel Rivals split by the Mr. Fantastic render from Ultimate Alliance 3

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The MCU and Marvel Rivals Could Build on Each Other

Marvel Rivals Would Thrive With MCU-Themed Events

Since Marvel Rivals is a live-service title, there will likely be plenty of events for players to participate in. Each season will come with a new theme, and if it follows in the footsteps of other shooters, then NetEase Games is probably planning special events outside of that. While it remains to be seen just what those events entail, the MCU could provide Marvel Rivals with countless themes to tap into.


In 2025, MCU fans are going to be treated to a whole host of new projects, with a new one practically every other month. As of right now, there are nine different titles for them to look forward to, and each one could lend itself to a Marvel Rivals‘ event. Players could collect new cosmetics based on Captain America: Brave New World, Daredevil could be added to the roster when Daredevil: Born Again premieres, The Fantastic Four could make their debut with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and the game could be filled with zombies when Marvel Zombies finally releases. Each MCU entry could bring with it new cosmetics, heroes, and missions for players to mess around with. And if done well, it could serve as another way to hype them up for whatever comes next while also capitalizing on the most popular entries.


Marvel Rivals is not the only thing that could benefit from a relationship like this, as the MCU could also tap into some of the game’s most popular heroes and scenarios. While many of the heroes have already had their live-action debut, some of them have yet to appear in any sort of film or TV show. However, when a character such as Jeff the Land Shark explodes in popularity, then the MCU could add that character to some project in the future. Even if they are simply a side character or Easter egg, Marvel Rivals fans would likely love to see their favorite heroes on the big screen.

If Marvel Rivals continues to be a massive success, then the MCU may have the perfect marketing campaign laid out for it. Each film or TV show would benefit from cosmetics, and the MCU could take inspiration from whatever Marvel Rivals is doing. Of course, both projects should still aim to stay mostly disconnected and original. But they could also really help bolster the other with all sorts of tie-in projects. And as the game grows, so too could the potential of these exciting events.

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