Marvel Rivals earned a Game Awards nomination for Best Ongoing title, which is a testament to how well-supported the live-service game was throughout its first year of life. As it turns out, though, this first year has just been a “warm-up” in the eyes of Marvel Rivals developer NetEase, as 2026 has been hyped up by the studio.
As of now, Marvel Rivals fans only know a few things about the future of the hero shooter. First, following the immense success of the PvE mode Marvel Zombies, NetEase has promised that much more co-op content will be coming to the game over the coming years. It’s unclear what exactly this content will look like, as it could be more maps full of the undead or story-focused missions with new kinds of enemies to battle, like Hydra and AIM goons. Additionally, Marvel Rivals’ Season 6 heroes are confirmed to be Deadpool and Elsa Bloodstone, with their exact roles remaining a mystery. Beyond that, future hero additions are less clear.
Cyclops was also teased via the intro cinematic for Marvel Rivals Season 5, which focused on the wedding of Rogue and Gambit.
While Deadpool continues to switch roles and keep gamers on their toes, NetEase has been directly teasing the future of its game, with Executive Producer Danny Koo recently speaking with Den of Geek about what’s next. The full extent of the company's “bigger plans” for 2026 are being kept under wraps, but Koo promised NetEase is “not going to slow down,” which makes sense since the studio apparently already has another full year of additions mapped out. He also teased one type of content that fans can expect to see more of: new game modes.
Marvel Rivals Will Focus on Giving Players More Choices
According to Koo, the great success with the aforementioned Marvel Zombies mode and Rivals’ hectic 18v18 experience, Annihilation, has influenced NetEase when crafting 2026’s new content. Essentially, the studio is aware that some players may enjoy more casual, silly, or co-operative experiences, and the studio wants to cater to every type of player going forward. So while new heroes and battle passes will continue to drop consistently, players can also expect entire game modes to be added from time to time. And based on both 18v18 and Marvel Zombies, if gamers make their voices heard about any additions they really love, there’s a good chance they’ll be made permanent.
While the promise of a content-heavy 2026 is deserving of hype, there are plenty of things that players would like to see beyond more game modes. Common requests include:
- A larger focus on new maps for the core game modes, as Marvel Rivals’ Season 5 maps being exclusive to 18v18 and Jeff’s Winter Splash has led to the map pool feeling a bit stale.
- More fun additions to Rivals' Times Square hub, as the present-opening and Pym Burgers have been a big hit with the community. Marvel movie watch nights and fashion shows are just some of the many possibilities.
- More community involvement via voting activities like the Hellfire Gala. Players feeling like they have a greater say in game balancing, hero additions, and more could raise morale in the community. At the very least, voting on which hero releases first in any given Season could be fun.
With a massive legacy of Marvel comics to pull from, NetEase should have no problem packing Marvel Rivals full of content for years to come. Whether the studio can actually keep its promise and outdo 2025 remains to be seen, as it has certainly set a high bar for itself, but NetEase striving to continue doing better suggests there’s a bright future ahead.
Marvel Rivals
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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!
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action, Multiplayer
