Marvel Rivals has been a massive success for NetEase Games, as the free-to-play title has won over gamers for numerous reasons. The use of an established brand that has been dominating pop culture for over a decade thanks to the incredibly popular MCU is a solid way to get players in the door, and those newcomers being greeted with over 30 characters to choose from gives them plenty of options to find someone to suit their playstyle. Marvel Rivals‘ gameplay, interesting team-up abilities, a well-thought-out approach to competitive mode, and a well-received battle pass system are all draws too. And, of course, there’s Jeff the Land Shark.
A relatively niche comic book character that appeared in Gwenpool and Deadpool comics over the last five years before getting his own series, Jeff’s popularity increased with his appearance in the Marvel Rivals’ beta and has skyrocketed since more players got to meet him in the full release. An accessible moveset makes him an attractive option for new players who want to support their allies, while an alarmingly powerful ultimate ability ensures he is the source of many memes. Beyond that, his design in the game is downright adorable, with fans loving his large, puppy-like appearance and cheerful personality. Jeff’s rise in fame even saw him become the focus of Marvel Rivals’ winter event, and it’s Jeff’s holiday celebration that fellow hero shooter Overwatch 2 could absolutely learn from.
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Marvel Rivals’ Winter Celebration Is a Seasonal Event Done Right
When looking at Marvel Rivals’ Winter Celebration briefly, it seems like the typical live-service event approach. A handful of paid, Christmassy skins are added to the in-game store, while a quirky limited-time mode – in Rivals’ case, a Jeff-filled take on Splatoon – is added to the selection of playlists. Like most good events, there are free rewards to collect as well, which come in the form of a Jeff the Shark skin, spray, emote, name card, and MVP intro. However, Marvel Rivals took things up a notch through the presentation of its first event, raising the bar for its own future festivities and those of the competition.
To progress through Marvel Rivals’ Winter Celebration, gamers need to decorate a cutout card by customizing the areas around Jeff. Each piece of the card has a handful of options – players are able to change the background to in-game maps like Tokyo 2099, add cookies to their Christmas tree, give a small snowman near Jeff a makeover, and more. It’s this little quirk that adds an extra feeling of fun to the event, as players are not just progressing to unlock rewards, but also giving Jeff some seasonal scenery to lose himself in. Players that complete the event card also get access to a sweet short story about Jeff’s budding friendship with Rocket and Groot, who both visited the card throughout the event to make it even livelier.
The progression of Marvel Rivals’ winter event serves as another strong point, as players can gain progress inside and outside the limited-time mode thanks to the event currency being added to regular challenges.
Overwatch 2’s Winter Fair Event Pass May Have Been a Diamond in the Rough
Marvel Rivals’ cute Jeff event has stood out thanks to its event card, but it’s not the only game to try this approach. Overwatch 2 also took a shot at this concept in 2023, though it had a number of problems. Players took umbrage with the paid and free tiers of the pass, as free users were limited to one skin unlock and were locked out of a majority of the card. More problematic was the fact that those who bought the premium card could not unlock everything within it, as there was not enough currency to acquire every skin, spray, profile icon, and so on.
While this flawed approach has likely soured Overwatch 2 fans on the event card concept, Blizzard can and should consider reviving it, provided that it fixes the above issues. In addition to more free track rewards (or a fully free card like Marvel Rivals) and all paid rewards being unlockable, Overwatch 2 could learn the following things from Marvel Rivals’ event and card:
- An Event Card themed around a cute character: While Overwatch 2’s Winter Fair Pass had a cute layout, Jeff’s setup was next-level, and Blizzard could learn from it. Overwatch 2 has no shortage of characters, so a card themed around heroes like Hammond, baby Winston, and Bastion, or even characters’ pets like Mitzi and Murphy, could be a fun draw.
- An Event Card that ends with some light-hearted lore: Overwatch 2’s Winter Wonderland menu screen featuring a winter gathering between a few heroes caught the attention of fans a few years ago, and getting the story behind that meet-up could be charming. Halloween parties, Lunar New Year’s celebrations, and more could be covered in other events’ stories, delivering material on par with Jeff meeting the Guardians of the Galaxy.
- An Event Card players customize as the days go on: One of the best parts about Marvel Rivals’ Winter Celebration was decorating the area around Jeff, and Overwatch 2 could use the same approach for a new Event Pass. Players could slowly integrate more characters, NPCs, locations, and more to complete a scene.
With Marvel Rivals’ first event knocking it out of the park, there would be no harm in Blizzard studying its competition. While the developer offering several free skins just for playing and via Overwatch 2 Twitch drops for 2024’s Winter Wonderland was a good gesture, Winter Wonderlands 2023’s Event Pass was arguably a more fun way to deliver event content – it just needs better implementation. Fortunately, the adorable, toothy mascot of Marvel Rivals proves it’s possible via an event that boasts good progression, fun rewards, and standout presentation.
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!