Marvel Rivals Reveals How Often Fans Can Expect New Heroes

Marvel Rivals: An Ambitious Hero Release Schedule

Marvel Rivals, NetEase's hit third-person hero shooter, launched in December 2024 with an impressive roster of 33 playable heroes. The game's phenomenal success, attracting 20 million players in its first month, is fueled by its ongoing content updates. A key component of this strategy is the planned release of new heroes approximately every 45 days.

Season 1, currently underway, exemplifies this rapid release schedule. The Fantastic Four's arrival marks the first wave of post-launch characters, with Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman already available. The Thing and Human Torch are slated for release later in the season. Season 1 also includes two new New York City maps, expanding the game's diverse locations.

Game Director Guangyun Chen confirmed this aggressive release plan in an interview with Metro. Each three-month season will feature two new heroes, resulting in an ambitious eight new heroes annually—more than double the yearly output of competitor Overwatch 2.

The Feasibility of a 45-Day Hero Release Cycle

This ambitious schedule raises questions about its long-term viability. While NetEase has access to a vast library of Marvel characters, including lesser-known heroes like Jeff the Shark and Squirrel Girl, the primary concern centers on development time. Thorough testing and balancing each new hero against 37 existing heroes and approximately 100 abilities is a significant undertaking. The potential for creative limitations regarding new abilities also exists. Unless NetEase has a substantial reserve of pre-developed heroes, maintaining this pace seems challenging to many players.

Looking Ahead

For now, players eagerly anticipate the remaining Fantastic Four members. The second half of Season 1 may also introduce additional content, such as new maps or in-game events. Fans are encouraged to follow Marvel Rivals' social media channels for the latest updates.