Marvel Rivals really hit the ground running when it launched last month. From day one, it had 33 characters you could play, which is a huge number when you consider that Overwatch 2 has 42 eight years after launch. After its first season started, Rivals added two more characters, Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman, and we can expect to see The Thing and Human Torch in a few weeks, bringing that number up to 37. It’s a lot.
Now, Marvel Rivals director Guangyun Chen has revealed that while the first season introduced four characters, future seasons will add two instead, which is still a ridiculous pace to be adding characters at. That’s a new character every six weeks, on top of new seasonal stories and maps. That’s eight new characters a year, plus the two extras from the first season. That’s so many that I’m wondering how on earth this could possibly be tenable in the long term.
How Can This Be Possible?
I already feel bad for the developers working on the game, because my god, that’s a lot to be providing players. And really, I kind of feel bad for players, too – Rivals has a reputation for being wildly unbalanced and chaotic, which is part of the fun for some, but with a new character entering the fray every six weeks, that lack of balance is likely to be a permanent feature.
To be fair, Marvel has an endless supply of characters to mine for ideas. It’s easier to adapt a character when their powers, character design, and personalities are already laid out for you than to create one from scratch, giving Rivals a leg up on the competition.
It’s more an act of translation than outright creation. All the same, that’s still a lot of work when it comes to implementation – seriously, six weeks per character? Those developers might need to start a union.
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NetEase Will Eventually Run Out Of Characters
Eight characters a year isn’t going to exhaust the endless mine that is the Marvel franchise anytime soon, but if Rivals is going to focus primarily on bringing recognisable characters to the game, I’m a little worried about the longevity of that strategy. There are only so many really recognisable faces to the casual Marvel enjoyer.
Marvel Snap adds a new character every week, though I can’t imagine these games are aiming for the exact same demographic, nor does making a card take as long to make a whole new playable character.
Already in the original lineup there are a bunch of characters that I, and most of the people I played with, didn’t recognise. Who is Squirrel Girl? Where did Jeff the Landshark come from? I’d never even heard of Cloak and Dagger, who I now almost exclusively main. NetEase is perfectly comfortable using lesser-known names to bolster its ranks, but these characters aren’t going to be as big a draw as, say, Professor X or Blade.
It seems that Rival’s strategy is to give players a mix of known and lesser-known characters. Dataminers have claimed they found evidence that Professor X, Colossus, Jia Jing, Paste Pot Pete, and Locus are coming to the game. Blade is also rumoured to be appearing in the game’s second season. It’s still unclear who will be added and when, but it seems that NetEase will be trying to moderate the flow of A-list characters into its game to some degree.
All the same, it’s a breakneck pace. While I suspect it’ll pay off in the long run when it comes to player retention, I’m not so sure it’ll be as great for its developers. Please, NetEase, cut those hard workers some slack.
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!