NetEase Games is making significant adjustments to the post-launch roadmap of Marvel Rivals, aiming to keep the momentum of its live service by shortening the length of its seasons and ensuring at least one new hero is introduced every month. This strategic shift was highlighted in the recent Marvel Rivals Season 2 Dev Vision Vol. 5 video, where the team outlined their plans for the future.
Season 2, set to launch on April 11, will introduce Emma Frost as the new Vanguard, with Ultron joining the roster mid-season. Both characters will bring fresh abilities to the game, but the real transformation in the delivery of playable heroes will kick off with Season 3. Although a specific release date for Season 3 has not been announced, NetEase plans to reduce the season duration from three months to two, allowing for more rapid content updates while still maintaining their commitment to releasing a new hero every half-season.
In the Dev Vision video, Marvel Rivals creative director Guangyun Chen shared insights into the decision-making process. "Since the launch of Season 1, we've been deeply contemplating how Marvel Rivals can continuously deliver fun and engaging experiences for you all," Chen stated. He acknowledged the pressure from social media discussions to keep the game as exciting as it was during its initial launch in December. "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 added.
NetEase aims to fulfill players' fantasies about Marvel Super Heroes by introducing new modes and expanding the roster with diverse characters. Following extensive internal discussions and evaluations, the company plans to adjust its systems to accommodate the increased content flow. More details on how these changes will impact players will be shared before the launch of Season 3.
Just hours ago, NetEase pulled back the curtain on Marvel Rivals Season 2, revealing a shift from the vampire takeover theme to a new storyline centered around the Hellfire Gala. This update will bring new outfits, maps, and characters, with further details to be announced in the coming weeks.
Since its explosive launch in December, Marvel Rivals has attracted 10 million players within just three days. The game, a free-to-play superhero team-based PvP shooter, was released on December 6 across PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. On Steam, it achieved a peak of 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 ever on Valve's platform.
Despite a decline in concurrent players since then, Marvel Rivals remains one of Steam's most-played games. The upcoming Season 2 and the planned Season 3 are expected to reinvigorate the player base. For more insights into Marvel Rivals, you can explore the patch notes for update version 20250327 and learn why Disney decided to scrap an idea for a Marvel Gaming Universe.
