Marvel Rivals has become a household name in the hero-shooter genre since Season 0 launched in December. There are 39 playable characters as of Marvel Rivals Season 2.5. Of course, while the midseason update for Season 2 unveiled several exciting features, such as Ultron being added to the roster as a Strategist and new patch notes, players are already turning their attention to Season 3.

Season 3 will mark a significant milestone for Marvel Rivals as NetEase Games continues to roll out new content and keep up with its ambitious promise of releasing two playable heroes per season. Interestingly, while leakers have claimed to know the identities of the next characters, the developers themselves may already be hinting at them through in-game skins. For instance, costumes like Moon Knight's Phoenix Knight and Punisher's Daredevil: Born Again costumes may serve more than one purpose.

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Marvel Rivals May Be Teasing Season 3 Heroes Through Recent Costumes

Phoenix and Daredevil Might Join The Roster Sooner Rather Than Later

While Marvel Rivals Season 3 wish lists prioritized previously hinted at characters like Blade joining the fight as a playable character, recent updates may indicate otherwise. The timing of the recent Moon Knight and The Punisher costumes may not be a coincidence. This is especially interesting given the rumors, led by YouTuber Dylbobz, that Phoenix was included in promotional materials distributed to content creators regarding the launch of Season 3.

NetEase Games has not confirmed this information, but if true, Blade fans may be disappointed by Marvel Rivals for another consecutive season. On the other hand, fans of Jean Grey and Matt Murdock may have reason to celebrate. Phoenix and Daredevil have become prominent figures in Marvel Comics since the 1960s, and both have appeared in Marvel Rivals' datamines before.

The Significance of Marvel Rivals' Latest Costumes

This isn't the first time Marvel Rivals has hinted at characters that have yet to become playable. Beyond datamined voice line interactions that have yet to be proven genuine, graphics and insignia for characters like Spider-Gwen and Deadpool have appeared in Tokyo 2099: Spider-Islands. Since Season 1, Blade has also been shown as a central part of the Timestream Entanglement storyline, though it's unclear when he may become part of the character select screen.

Caught somewhere in the in-between lie the not-so-subtle hints offered by the Phoenix Knight and Daredevil: Born Again costumes. While potentially more obvious than a small graphic nodding to characters on a map, it's not as clear as Blade taking a nap in the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda map. However, if intentional, Marvel Rivals seems to be directly hinting at upcoming content via its latest costumes.

These Easter eggs carry more weight considering that in Season 2, during the Marvel Rivals Hellfire Gala event, players saw Scarlet Witch in her themed outfit before the event had even been revealed. The prominent Daredevil logo in the preview for The Punisher's latest skin, inspired by the 2025 television series, also has fans extremely excited. Combined with Moon Knight’s costume, in which the Phoenix possesses him, it would feel like a missed opportunity if NetEase Games weren't planning to bring Phoenix or Daredevil into the fold soon.

Marvel Rivals seems to be directly hinting at upcoming content via its latest costumes.

Therefore, while following the lore and leaks for Marvel Rivals can be helpful, if costumes related to major updates start to become a pattern, fans will want to take note of it. After all, while Marvel Rivals' story is intriguing and some leaks have proven accurate, this source may ultimately be more reliable. If Phoenix appears as a playable character during Season 3's launch, it could signal that Daredevil isn't far behind.

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Third-Person Shooter
Action
Multiplayer
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 78 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
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Released
December 6, 2024
ESRB
T For Teen // Violence
Developer(s)
NetEase Games
Publisher(s)
NetEase Games
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
Limited - console crossplay, no PC crossplay
Cross Save
No
Franchise
Marvel
Number of Players
1-6
Steam Deck Compatibility
Unknown
PC Release Date
December 6, 2024
Xbox Series X|S Release Date
December 6, 2024
PS5 Release Date
December 6, 2024
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter, Action, Multiplayer
OpenCritic Rating
Strong
How Long To Beat
7.5 hours
X|S Optimized
Yes
File Size Xbox Series
20 GB