While there is no denying that Overwatch 2 disappointed many players upon its debut, as it lacked plenty of content that gamers were expecting to see, it has slowly addressed a number of criticisms as time has gone on. 6v6 has been re-introduced, monetization has been altered to allow for more free rewards via lootboxes and earnable currency, and genuinely game-changing mechanics like Overwatch 2’s new perk system have helped the sequel finally earn the number in its title. However, one big blemish on Overwatch 2 remains the cancelation of a full PvE mode, which is something Marvel Rivals should capitalize on as the two games continue to compete.
Initially, Overwatch 2’s co-op content was meant to be the main justification for the game’s existence, with a full story campaign accompanied by “hundreds” of replayable side missions and expansive skill trees for each hero. Unfortunately, these plans would be scrapped when Blizzard realized its goals were too ambitious, with the skill trees and hero missions dropped completely and only the story missions surviving. Even then, only three missions have ever been released for Overwatch 2, with the Invasion content dropping well over a year ago and no more story missions announced, despite Invasion ending on a cliffhanger. With Blizzard seemingly content to continue focusing on refining Overwatch 2’s multiplayer, NetEase has a chance to start introducing its own PvE content into Marvel Rivals.
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Marvel Rivals Dev Reveals Top Priority for Balance Updates
Marvel Rivals has quickly become one of the year’s biggest multiplayer hits, drawing in millions of players with its expansive hero shooter roster featuring unique takes on iconic Marvel characters. As the game continues to grow with new seasons and playable heroes, its developers at NetEase have clarified their approach to competitive balance. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Marvel Games Executive Producer Danny Koo stated that while the team does monitor win rates and other gameplay metrics, competitive balance isn’t the top priority. Instead, the focus is on making the game fun, first and foremost.
Marvel Rivals Has Almost Everything It Needs For PvE Content
The recognizability of the Marvel brand has not only been a great way to get casual gamers and non-hero shooter players to try out Marvel Rivals, but has also provided NetEase with a near-endless pool of content to borrow from. The developer will have access to more than enough characters to help it achieve its ambitious goal of adding new Marvel Rivals heroes every month and a half, and beyond that, there are countless comics and settings to leverage for seasonal themes. Players can logically go from a gothic, vampire-dominated season to a luxurious celebration via the Hellfire Gala, and Marvel Rivals has only scratched the surface with map settings, as locations ranging from the X-Mansion to the Quantum Realm can still be explored.
With over three-dozen heroes available to choose from, NetEase would have no issue creating diverse missions from a gameplay standpoint. Much like Overwatch’s old Archives missions, players could have access to a group of at least four characters, choosing their hero of choice before embarking on a linear quest through one of the game’s existing maps. Dialogue has been a huge strength for Marvel Rivals already, and hearing characters have lengthier conversations about what they’re doing during a mission can open up deeper story opportunities. The levels could also be bookended by cinematics, with NetEase telling key parts of its story through these hypothetical additions. Really, all Marvel Rivals would need is enemy NPCs, and there are no shortage of factions the heroes could fight, including:
- Ultron Bots
- Hydra Soldiers
- AIM Beekeepers
- Symbiotes
- Moloids
- Dark Elves
- Purifiers
- Reavers
- The Hand
- Various alien races, like the Chitauri
What Could Marvel Rivals PvE Missions Look Like?
If NetEase were to introduce PvE missions to Marvel Rivals, its best bet may be to drop them as season finales. This way, players could face off against that season’s villain before the next era of the game begins. For example, had season 1 had a PvE mission, it could have seen players battling hordes of vampires before eventually clashing with Dracula in a boss fight, allowing them to actually see the story play out as opposed to reading it through Marvel Rivals’ collectible comics. The group of four (or more) characters could consist of members from an existing comic book team, like the X-Men, as it would be great to see Scarlet Witch and Magneto interact more heavily, as all fans get currently is the same pre-match conversations between the father and daughter duo. Other existing dynamics would be fun to see more of, like Spider-Man learning to tolerate Venom, as would fresh pairings like Moon Knight bonding with Blade since they both spend time in the darker side of the Marvel universe. With Overwatch 2’s PvE currently dormant, Marvel Rivals has a chance to completely steal its thunder, satisfying co-op fans and lore enthusiasts who were let down by Blizzard.
Third-Person Shooter
Action
Multiplayer
- Released
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December 6, 2024
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
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NetEase Games
- Publisher(s)
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NetEase Games