Marvel Rivals is having a big week, with Season 1 kicking off this Friday. After the initial trailer showcasing the Fantastic Four, the Rivals development team at NetEase Games released an 11-minute video detailing all the new stuff and changes coming in Season 1.
The biggest news is all four Fantastic Four members, Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Thing, and Human Torch, are coming to Season 1.
Four new heroes in a single season is absolutely bonkers, but I expect nothing less given the previous hero release schedule leading up to launch. Season 1, which lasts about three months, is described as “Giant-Size” and “two-in-one” by the team. Perhaps future seasons will be shorter, and feature two new heroes (which is still a lot!).
Mister Fantastic (Duelist) and Invisible Woman (Strategist) will arrive first, with The Thing and Human Torch arriving at the mid-season point in about “six or seven weeks.” All heroes will be free.
The Season 1 theme is Eternal Night Falls, which puts New York City under the dark schemes of Dracula. The new maps take place in a dark version of New York City, an iconic location in the Marvel universe: Sanctum Sanctorum, Midtown, and Central Park.
Midtown is a Convoy map, and will arrive during the first half of the season, alongside a new game mode, Doom Match. Doom Match takes place in the Sanctum Santorum, but we aren’t sure what it is yet!
The developers also teased upcoming balance changes, always a critical component to competitive multiplayer games with asymmetrical characters. Hela and Hawkeye, who dominate matches with their long-range damage, are getting nerfed. And Jeff’s powerful Ultimate will be reduced to better match what actually shows on the screen.
Meanwhile, mobile vanguards Venom and Captain America will receive buffs, as well as Wolverine and Storm, who have niche at best roles in any team comp. Curiously Cloak & Dagger are also getting a buff, though I thought they were just fine!
Rivals is also getting a new ranked tier called Celestial. Ranks from the previous season will decay when the new season starts by seven divisions. Players who achieved Platinum I in Season 0 will have to fight their way up from Silver II when Season 1 starts.
Needless to say, I’m not going to be falling very much!
Season 1 will also feature a new Battle Pass, with luxury tier that costs 990 lattice (about $10), with twice as many cosmetic goodies as Season 0, including 10 new skins. By purchasing the luxury tier, players can earn back 600 lattice, and 600 units.
Marvel Rivals Season 1 begins January 10.
