NetEase Games is making significant changes to the Marvel Rivals post-launch roadmap, aiming to shorten its seasons and introduce at least one new hero every month. This strategic shift is designed to maintain the game's live service momentum and keep players engaged.
These updates were hinted at during the Marvel Rivals Season 2 Dev Vision Vol. 5 video, which provided a glimpse into the upcoming content. Season 2, set to launch on April 11, will introduce the new Vanguard, Emma Frost, and later, Ultron, whose class details will be disclosed closer to his mid-season debut. Both characters are expected to bring fresh dynamics to the game with their unique abilities. However, the real transformation in how playable heroes affect matches will kick off in Season 3.
In Marvel Rivals Season 3, NetEase plans to reduce the length of seasons from three months to two, accelerating the pace of major content updates while sticking to their commitment of releasing at least one new hero every half-season. This means that after Emma Frost's launch, the wait for Ultron will be a month and a half, but subsequent hero releases will follow more quickly.
Marvel Rivals' creative director, Guangyun Chen, shared in the Dev Vision video that since Season 1's launch, the team has been focused on ensuring the game remains fun and engaging. Social media feedback has added pressure to keep the game exciting. "With our goal of keeping the audience’s excitement alive just like our opening months, the real adventure with Marvel Rivals is just beginning," Chen stated, emphasizing NetEase's commitment to fulfilling players' fantasies about Marvel Super Heroes through new modes and a diverse roster of characters. More details on how these changes will impact players will be shared before Season 3's launch.
Just hours ago, NetEase pulled back the curtain on Marvel Rivals Season 2, announcing a shift from the vampire takeover theme to a new storyline centered around the Hellfire Gala. This promises new outfits, maps, and characters, with more details to be revealed in the coming weeks.
Since its launch in December, Marvel Rivals has been a phenomenal success, attracting 10 million players in just three days. The game, a free-to-play superhero team-based PvP shooter, was released across PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. On Steam, it achieved 480,990 concurrent players at launch, with Season 1 in January drawing an impressive 644,269 concurrent players, making it the 15th most-played game on Valve's platform.
Despite a decline in concurrent players since then, Marvel Rivals remains highly popular and is still one of Steam's top-played games. The introduction of Season 2 and the upcoming Season 3 are expected to reinvigorate player interest.
For more information on Marvel Rivals, check out the patch notes for update version 20250327 and learn why Disney decided to scrap an idea for a Marvel Gaming Universe.
