Marvel Rivals Reveals How Often Fans Can Expect New Heroes

Marvel Rivals: An Ambitious Hero Release Schedule

Marvel Rivals, NetEase's hit third-person hero shooter, launched in December 2024 with 33 playable characters and has already amassed a remarkable 20 million players in its first month. The game's success is fueling an aggressive content release plan: a new hero approximately every 45 days.

This ambitious schedule, outlined by Game Director Guangyun Chen in an interview with Metro, translates to eight new heroes annually—more than double the yearly release rate of its competitor, Overwatch 2. Each three-month season will feature two new heroes, with the Fantastic Four serving as the initial post-launch additions. Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman are already available, with The Thing and Human Torch slated for the second half of Season 1. Season 1 also includes two new New York City maps.

The rapid release cadence raises concerns among some fans. The intensive testing and balancing required for each new hero, considering the existing roster of 33 heroes and their numerous abilities, presents a significant challenge. The potential for creative limitations regarding new abilities is also a factor. Unless NetEase has a substantial reserve of pre-developed heroes, maintaining this pace seems daunting.

Despite these concerns, the game boasts a vast pool of Marvel characters to draw from, ranging from iconic figures to lesser-known heroes like Jeff the Shark and Squirrel Girl, demonstrating NetEase's willingness to explore the Marvel universe's diverse roster.

Fans can anticipate the arrival of the remaining Fantastic Four members as Season 1 progresses, with the possibility of additional content, such as new maps or in-game events, in the season's second half. Keep an eye on Marvel Rivals' social media for updates.