Summary
- Marvel Rivals closed beta expands with Thor and Jeff the Land Shark characters, drawing in a record 50,000 players in just one day.
- Two new characters bring diversity to the Marvel Rivals roster, with Thor representing a classic hero and Jeff the Land Shark as a newer addition.
- Players can look forward to the upcoming "War of the Realms" 6v6 tournament and other new content in the ongoing closed beta test until August 5th.
Marvel Rivals is adding two more playable characters during its ongoing closed beta: the mighty Thunder God Thor and Jeff the Land Shark. NetEase Games is already offering up a packed roster of playable heroes and villains for Marvel Rivals. Before this week’s San Diego Comic-Con 2024 convention, 21 playable characters were confirmed for Marvel Rivals.
As of this writing, a select group of players are diving into Marvel Rivals’ frantic 6v6 arena shooter gameplay in the ongoing closed beta test, which will run until August 5 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. In just its first day alone, the Marvel Rivals beta managed to have over 50,000 players, which is no small accomplishment when one remembers that participants have to be invited. There is plenty of new content for said participants to enjoy, such as the in-game Galacta's Quest event and the upcoming "War of the Realms" 6v6 tournament.
Marvel Rivals Closed Beta is Already a Big Hit
The ongoing Marvel Rivals closed beta test is already drawing in a massive amount of players, serving as a promising sign for the upcoming 6v6 title.
A new cinematic trailer for Marvel Rivals was shown during San Diego Comic-Con 2024, featuring various heroes battling an army of Doctor Doom’s robots in a wrecked city. Included among their ranks is Thor, confirming that the legendary God of Thunder will lend his Mjolnir hammer to Marvel Rivals. A second, more humorous trailer revealed that Jeff the Land Shark would be added to the roster as well, showing the cute, puppy-like shark singing along to the Marvel Rivals trailer music before spitting out bubbles. Both Thor and Jeff will be made playable in the Marvel Rivals closed beta on July 27.
Marvel Rivals Thor and Jeff the Land Shark Release Date
- July 27, 2024
While Thor’s inclusion in Marvel Rivals was almost a given due to his status as a founding member of the Avengers with a large list of video game appearances under his belt already, Jeff the Land Shark’s appearance might be a shock for gamers. A relative newcomer to the Marvel Universe, Jeff was first introduced in the pages of West Coast Avengers Vol. 3 #7 in January 2019 as a pet/attack dog for Gwenpool. Before his upcoming role in Marvel Rivals, Jeff was featured as a playable character in mobile games like Marvel Puzzle Quest and Marvel Snap.
Details about how Thor and Jeff the Land Shark will play are still forthcoming, but both these characters embody the diversity of the Marvel Rivals roster. In addition to expected household names like Iron Man and Star-Lord, Marvel Rivals is putting the spotlight on newer characters that haven’t been featured much outside of the printed page. Jeff the Land Shark is certainly such a figure, and Marvel Rivals players will get to take control of this pint-size powerhouse when he and Thor are added to the closed beta on July 27.
Marvel Rivals
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 78 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
- Released
- December 6, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
- NetEase Games
- Publisher(s)
- NetEase Games
WHERE TO PLAY
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!
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Marvel
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action, Multiplayer
