Marvel Rivals: Everything we know about the newly revealed PvP Shooter game
Gamers and Marvel fans were greeted with a surprise reveal this week: a brand new Marvel-based video game! Titled Marvel Rivals, the free-to-play game is described as a "team-based PVP shooter."
What is Marvel Rivals?
At first glance, Marvel Rivals looks a lot like Overwatch, a similar team-based shooter that features a robust cast of intriguing characters. In a similar vein, Marvel Rivals also boasts a superpowered roster featuring some of Marvel's most iconic and well-known heroes and villains.
Marvel Rivals features a mix of fan-favorite and cult classic heroe sand villains from across the Marvel Multiverse, including the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and X-Men. Some of the playable characters seen in the trailer include Black Panther, Spider-Man, Magneto, Hulk, Doctor Strange, Groot, Iron Man, Loki, Luna Snow, Magik and more.
Developer NetEase Games didn't get into the specific gameplay modes that will be available in the game, but at its core, it's a 6v6 shooter. Presumably, there will be a standard Deathmatch-type mode, but I'm assuming there will be other game types with different objectives.
Each playable character will have their own uniqe set of skills and abilities they will bring to the battleground. NetEase also teamed something called "Team-Up Skills." These are special attacks unleashed by coordinating unique combinations of superpowers. For example, Rocket Raccoon is able to ride on Groot's back, while Hulk can unleash Gamma energy to charge Iron Man's armor for massive damage.
We were only shown a few of the maps, but NetEase promises battles will take place across many Marvel worlds, from Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099. These maps will feature destructible environments as the superpowers can alter and reshape the terrain, creating a strategic advantage (or disadvantage) on the battlefield.
Marvel Rivals features a storyline written by NetEase to help explain what's going on in the game:
"The merciless clash between the tyrannical dictator Doctor Doom and his future counterpart from the year 2099 has forced countless universes to collide in the Timestream Entanglement, creating new worlds and crises still unknown. Now, Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the multiverse must fight together and against one another as disparate groups seek to defeat both Dooms before one achieves domination of these realities. Familiar faces become newfound foes while former enemies become the greatest of allies in Marvel Rivals!"
Marvel Rivals release date and platforms
Marvel Rivals does not yet have a release date but there are plans for an Alpha Test in May. This could mean that a beta arrives later this year with perhaps a launch to follow shortly after, or maybe in 2025.
The game is being released on PC, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it come to consoles in the future. A PC-exclusive release would be extremely limiting.
Marvel Rivals post-launch plans
It's unclear if Marvel Rivals will be a paid game or free-to-play at launch, but we do know that NetEase has plans to continue supporting it with "robust" post-launch updates. NetEase has promised seasonal drops that will introduce new Super Heroes and maps. There will also be new content to unlock, presumably through some sort of paid battle pass system.