Marvel Rivals Reveals How Often Fans Can Expect New Heroes

Summary

• Marvel Rivals plans to add a new hero approximately every 45 days, resulting in eight new heroes annually.
• The game launched with a roster of 33 playable heroes.
• Many players express concern about the ambitious release schedule, citing potential challenges in adequately playtesting new heroes.

Marvel Rivals, NetEase's new third-person hero shooter, launched in December 2024 to phenomenal success, boasting 20 million players within its first month. The game debuted with 33 playable heroes, including popular Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the Hulk. Season 1 is currently underway, already introducing new playable characters. The Fantastic Four are the first post-launch additions, with Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman already available, and The Thing and Human Torch expected later in the season. Season 1 also includes two new New York City maps.

In an interview with Metro, Game Director Guangyun Chen revealed the ambitious release plan: a new hero roughly every 45 days, totaling eight per year. This significantly surpasses the three new heroes annually released by competitor Overwatch 2.

Marvel Rivals Aims for a New Hero Every 45 Days

This aggressive release schedule raises questions about feasibility. While NetEase has access to a vast library of Marvel characters, including less conventional choices like Jeff the Shark and Squirrel Girl, concerns center on the limited development time for each hero. Thorough testing and balancing are crucial considering the existing 33 heroes and their numerous abilities. The potential for running out of innovative abilities is also a factor. Unless NetEase has a substantial reserve of pre-developed heroes, maintaining this pace seems a significant challenge to many players.

Marvel Rivals fans can anticipate the arrival of the remaining Fantastic Four members as Season 1 progresses. Further content, such as new maps or in-game events, may also be released in the second half of Season 1. Players are encouraged to follow Marvel Rivals' social media channels for updates.