Key Takeaways
- Marvel Rivals attracted 10M players in its opening weekend, with 500K concurrently on Steam, surpassing Overwatch 2’s peak.
- Doctor Strange mains are causing havoc with portals, resulting in instant kills at game launch.
- Players are discovering new strategies, like using portals to bypass barriers and to replicate Valve’s 2007 hit.
I’m not even sure NetEase could have predicted just how strong Marvel Rivals‘ start has been. Over ten million players jumped in on the game’s opening weekend, and half a million of those were playing simultaneously on Steam, significantly outperforming Overwatch 2’s peak.
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The game is finding its footing nicely, with players figuring out the best roles, characters, and play styles.
But while much of the above is still up in the air, Doctor Strange mains are causing havoc with their character’s portals, including using them to get kills the second a match starts.
Doctor Strange’s Portals Can Get Instant Marvel Rival KO’s
Just days after Marvel Rivals’ launch, a new strat was shared on Reddit by Mlol09 that shows the devastating impact of Doctor Strange’s portals.
Playing as a defender in Convoy on the Tokyo 2099: Spider-Islands map, Mlol opened a portal outside of the map’s boundary, above a giant chasm. They then quickly rushed to the other side of the map, near the enemy’s spawn, and opened the other part of the portal outside of a door. As the match began, the enemy forces sprinted through the door and unknowingly into Strange’s portal.
In Mlol’s clip, Strange can then be seen hovering above the portal as the opposition heroes come flying out, dropping to their instant deaths.
It’s one of many interesting new strategies that will likely emerge as the game progresses, and it’s taken the internet by storm.
Strange’s Portals Are Going To Cause Chaos
Alongside the insta-death strat, players are also finding other uses for Strange’s portals.
Reddit user Royal-Permission-352 found a way to circumnavigate the game’s invisible barriers using them, and over on Twitter, players are figuring out that they work just like Valve’s 2007 smash hit.
Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!
Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!
A Deep and Varied Marvel Roster
Choose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.
Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game Dynamics
With intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there’s never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.
Dynamic Hero Synergy
Coordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!
Creative Environment Destruction
Tear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!
Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch Updates
The Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!