Marvel Rivals has managed to make an absolutely massive impact in a short amount of time. Not only has Marvel Rivals maintained a high player count, but it’s reached a new peak for season 1, making the absurd amount of revenue generated by the game in its first month easy to comprehend. Additionally, fans are responding well to the game’s first season and its gigantic offering of content, as it offers a fresh mode, multiple maps, four playable heroes, and a battle pass full of interesting Darkhold-themed attires. Still, Marvel Rivals can learn something from the king of the live-service world.
While Marvel Rivals is understandably the talk of the town at the moment, Fortnite has thrived for years due to a number of clever decisions made by Epic Games. While adding entirely new forms of play like Fortnite Festival and LEGO Fortnite has been a draw, as have big events like Fortnite OG, Fortnite has been incredibly dominant largely due to the way in which it handles its cosmetics. Every time there is a big collaboration, Fortnite ensures it is covering the associated brand thoroughly through several themed bundle items, with players always getting their money’s worth because of this. Sometimes, there are even a few variants of a skin thanks to Fortnite’s styles, a mechanic that Marvel Rivals would be wise to borrow in order to make its own skins more enticing.
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Fortnite’s Skin Styles Would Be a Natural Fit For Marvel Rivals
When thinking about how Fortnite’s skin styles could translate to Marvel Rivals, it may be best to look at how the battle royale title handled its own Marvel collab skins. For multiple outfits, including a few of its takes on Spider-Man, Fortnite gave players the option to fight through the island as an unmasked version of the webslinger. This is exactly what Marvel Rivals could do with styles, as for any character that wears a mask or helmet with their paid outfit, a second version could be included within the bundle that removes the mask. A few options for removable mask skins already exist in the game, like:
- Magneto’s default outfit and its recolors
- Any of Moon Knight’s costumes
- Wolverine’s yellow and blue suit from Deadpool and Wolverine
- Any of Spider-Man’s costumes
- Any of Iron Man’s outfits, but Superior Iron Man would benefit in particular, as it would look more like the comic book version
- Star-Lord’s default suit and its recolors
- Black Panther’s default suit and its recolors
Characters with half-masks like Iron Fist or lower face coverings like Psylocke and Winter Soldier could also have alternate styles.
Skin Styles Could Do More Than Unmask Marvel Rivals’ Heroes
While unmasking the iconic heroes of the Marvel universe is one obvious path that developer NetEase could take, it is not the only one. Fortnite also offered comic book art styles for its Marvel outfits, giving heroes like Daredevil a cel-shaded appearance alongside their default look that matches the traditional Fortnite art style. While Marvel Rivals’ gorgeous artwork already resembles a comic book, ruling out a simple cel-shading filter for its character skins, there are still other options to get more out of each cosmetic.
Paid skins in Marvel Rivals could start offering multiple color schemes, as it is easy to imagine Wolverine’s Blood Berserker design looking just as good with brown or red as its primary color. Fully black and white versions of certain outfits could be neat to see as well, as they would stand out from Marvel Rivals’ colorful maps. If Marvel Rivals were to embrace a Marvel Zombies celebration come Halloween 2026, zombified versions of every skin could be added, with players able to purchase gruesome, rotting versions of their favorite looks as alternate styles. With so many Fortnite-like options for suit styles in Marvel Rivals, hopefully NetEase looks to the most enduring name in the live-service scene to make its cosmetic bundles even more appealing than they already are.
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!