Marvel Rivals is Keeping Its Most Famous Gag Going, But The…

Marvel Rivals is already well into Season 2.5. Despite Marvel Rivals' player count slowly decreasing since its launch in December 2024, it has remained an incredibly popular live-service title, particularly for how it expanded upon the hero-shooter genre and its recognizable cast of superheroes and villains. As such, while the more casual player base may be declining, it has garnered a loyal community.

Part of the reason the Marvel Rivals community has continued to thrive is thanks to the steady flow of communication from NetEase Games, as well as its memeable online culture and running jokes. For instance, although Jeff the Land Shark was an existing character before being added to the game's roster, he has since become an internet sensation. On the other hand, while some running jokes have landed well among the community, the developers are walking a fine line by continuing to tease Blade as a playable character without indicating when he'll debut.

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By Cameron Swan

Marvel Rivals Continues to Tease Blade, But Isn't Delivering

Blade's History So Far in Marvel Rivals

Blade has been teased as far back as December, when dataminers first discovered his name in the game files. He later made his official debut in Marvel Rivals Season 1, wherein, upon completing Chapter 3 of the game's Midnight Features quest, players acquired a Gallery Card of Blade engaged in battle with Dracula in New York. It was later revealed that the vampire hunter lost the fight and was taken prisoner on the Central Park map.

By Marvel Rivals' Hellfire Gala event in Season 2, Blade was freed from Dracula's clutches and was spotted getting some well-deserved rest on one of the beds on the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda map. Fans appreciated this nod to the character at the time, as it signaled that NetEase Games had not forgotten about the character.

After all, after being a recurring part of the Timestream Entanglement storyline for months, this felt like a promise that Blade would become a playable character as soon as he was done napping.

Interestingly, eagle-eyed fans have noticed after Marvel Rivals' June 19 update that Blade is no longer on the bed in Wakanda. While this could offer a glimmer of hope for Blade enthusiasts, it might also suggest that NetEase Games is simply teasing fans once again, and the antihero may appear on another map, training, taking a bath, eating, or engaging in any activity that isn't actually appearing on the character select screen.

With Blade on many fans' Marvel Rivals Season 3 wish lists, the developers could be playing a dangerous game by keeping him off the playable roster for too long. As a half-year-long running joke, some may come to the conclusion that the teasing is no longer amusing. Although it could pay off if he arrives in Season 3, rumors suggest that he'll arrive in Season 4 or later, possibly to coincide with Halloween. That being said, this information remains unconfirmed and should be taken with a grain of salt.

2025 May Be Testing Blade Fans’ Patience

To rub salt in the wound, 2025 may not be the best year to be a fan of the vampire slayer. In 2024, fans got to see Wesley Snipes reprise his role as Blade in the Deadpool & Wolverine film, but 2025 has been quiet. Similarly, during The Game Awards 2023, Arkane Studios announced Marvel's Blade, an action-adventure title that follows the Daywalker as he navigates a dark world of vampires and other creatures of the night. However, since this initial unveiling, details on the game have been scarce.

Some are worried that Marvel's Blade may be canceled if it doesn't receive an update. This doesn't seem inconceivable, given that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Blade reboot appears to be in trouble after repeated delays and revisions, as well as Marvel's recent cancellation of its Black Panther game. With this information in mind, Marvel Rivals may be Blade fans' best chance to engage with the character in the near future. Therefore, it would likely be more satisfying for fans if he were added to the roster sooner rather than later, particularly since other characters are being added to the game over Blade.

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