Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals
Developer(s)	NetEase Games
Publisher(s)	NetEase Games
Director(s)	Thaddeus Sasser
Engine	Unreal Engine 5
Platform(s)	Windows macOS
Genre(s)	Hero shooter
Mode(s)	Multiplayer

Marvel Rivals is an upcoming hero shooter video game developed and published by NetEase Games in collaboration with Marvel Games. The game is set to release for Microsoft Windows and macOS. The game will be free-to-play with a current line up of nineteen characters from Marvel Comics.

Gameplay

Marvel Rivals will be a 6v6 player-versus-player, third-person hero shooter title.^[1] With the right combination of characters, players can make use of "Dynamic Hero Synergy" which further maximize their playable character's combat efficiency. The game also features destructible environments, allowing players to alter the battlefield (overseen by Galacta) to their advantage.^[2]

As of March 2024, the following nineteen playable characters have been officially announced: Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, the Black Panther, Loki, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Mantis, Namor, Peni Parker, Magik, Luna Snow, Storm, Magneto, the Punisher, the Scarlet Witch, and Hela.^[3] Additionally, two locations have been confirmed for the game, those being Yggsgard, a fusion of Asgard and Yggdrasil, and Tokyo of 2099.^[4][5]

Plot

The story follows a hostile meeting between Doctor Doom and his heroic 2099 counterpart. This causes multiple universes to merge in the 'Timestream Entanglement,' which causes new worlds to be created. This causes heroes and villains across the multiverse to fight one another with the main goal of defeating both Doctor Doom variants before one claims victory over the new worlds.^{[6][self-published source]}

Development and release

NetEase Games has established a specialized team in Seattle, dedicated to game and level design, to collaborate with their team in Guangzhou, China on Marvel Rivals.^[7] The game is currently being developed by NetEase Games, which had also developed two Marvel games prior to Marvel Rivals: Marvel Super War (2019) and Marvel Duel (2020).^[8] Jay Ong from Marvel Games described Rivals as one of their "most ambitious game development projects".^[9]

The game has not been given a release date, but is having a closed alpha test starting May 10, 2024.^[9] NetEase generated controversy when streamer Brandon Larned called out the company on social media for including a non-disparagement clause in the contract given to content creators who had access to the alpha test. This barred reviews from saying anything negative about the game. Following online backlash, NetEase apologized and stated it would be revising its contract to be more creator-friendly.^[10]

The game will be free-to-play from release. Though the game is set to release for Windows and macOS via Steam and Epic Games, NetEase Games had stated that it is "actively exploring potential releases on other platforms."^[11][12]

References

External links

• Official website
• Marvel Rivals at Marvel