Why Marvel Rivals Pulling the Trigger on Role Queue May Be…

Marvel Rivals will launch on December 6. With Hydra Charteris Base and Klyntar: Symbiotic Surface drawing attention as the newest maps to be added to the superhero shooter, the excitement surrounding Marvel Rivals continues to grow. An impressive roster of 33 heroes and villains will also be playable starting in Season 0.

While the announcement of heroes like Hawkeye joining Marvel Rivals is generating excitement, the limited number of Strategists could turn out to be a double-edged sword. Moreover, players hoping for Role Queue may be disappointed in the lack of structure when delving into matches. Though it makes sense why the playtests and early seasons of Marvel Rivals may not have role lock, Competitive modes would benefit from such a feature.

Marvel Rivals Faces Potential Controversy Over Its Lack of Role Queue

Marvel Rivals Could Be Unknowingly Sabotaging Its Own Success

In an August interview with Dexerto, developers from NetEase Games stated that they had no interest in adding a role lock to the game. Executive Producer Danny Koo reasoned, "We do not want players to have role lock. We want them to be creative with their formations and use the heroes as they like in their 6-player team." While choosing to forgo role queue in Marvel Rivals is a bold decision, it's also possible that the studio may change its stance as the hero-shooter evolves and metas start taking shape.

Considering that similar titles like Overwatch didn’t implement Role Queue until 2018, two years after launch, NetEase Games is unlikely to rule out the idea permanently. After all, Marvel Rivals has potential as an esport, and the various tournaments held during the playtests are a testament to this. If the third-person shooter plans to continue down this path, maintaining a healthy atmosphere in Competitive modes will be essential, as top-ranked players often play on ladder, scrimmage, and put significant effort into the esport.

"Maintaining a healthy atmosphere in Competitive modes will be essential."

Additionally, while casual players may not mind the absence of role lock, those aiming to climb the ranked ladder may begin to criticize overly dominant metas. In the long term, as the player base grows, the demand for more structure in team compositions will likely increase, and failing to address this could harm the game’s success. Therefore, NetEase Games may want to consider a solution similar to Overwatch, wherein people can play Open Queue or Role Queue based on their preferences. Alternatively, Marvel Rivals could make role lock exclusive to Competitive.

Marvel Rivals' Roster Needs More Diversity

Unfortunately, even if Marvel Rivals were to implement role lock, it could take time. Based on Marvel Rivals' content roadmap and the characters revealed so far, the number of Duelists and Vanguard characters available far outweighs the Strategists. As of November 26, 28 heroes have been confirmed and only six are designated Strategists. This list includes:

Adam Warlock
Jeff the Land Shark
Loki
Luna Snow
Mantis
Rocket Raccoon

For players keen on trying popular characters like Psylocke, Moon Knight, and Hawkeye, this could result in the Strategist role being neglected. So far, there have not been any new Strategists announced since Jeff the Land Shark, which means all of them were already playable during the Closed Alpha and Beta. As such, the limited number of Strategist heroes may hurt Marvel Rivals' launch, as players eagerly rush to try the newer characters. If Marvel Rivals wanted to pull the trigger on role queue, it may be better to wait until the Strategist role fills out more.

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Marvel Rivals

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9 /10

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Released: December 6, 2024

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Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!
Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!

A Deep and Varied Marvel Roster
Choose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.

Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game Dynamics
With intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there's never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.

Dynamic Hero Synergy
Coordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot's back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man's armor for massive damage, and so much more!

Creative Environment Destruction
Tear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!

Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch Updates
The Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!