Marvel Rivals is rumoured to be a developing title being built by NetEase. It’s said to be an Overwatch or a VALORANT-style shooter with hero-based mechanics and a sumptuous art style. In the earliest leaks, it has been suggested that Marvel Rivals will take on a 6v6 operating system and it will be available on PC and console platforms upon launch – there won’t be a mobile version of the game. Several leaks have surfaced claiming to reveal images taken from the game.

In early reports, it has been claimed that Marvel Rivals is a ‘mostly melee-based’ game, except for a few characters that have ranged attacks. It’s bolstered by a line-up that features some of Marvel’s most recognisable characters, like Iron Man and Spider-Man, and from what we’ve seen so far, it appears to be a live service game that’ll evolve as time goes on. It has been referenced that Marvel Rivals will be a third-person title and that it’ll be exclusively player-vs-player with no ‘PvE’ options built in.

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Overwatch But Marvel

Everything we’ve seen so far suggests that Marvel Rivals will mimic Overwatch and VALORANT in many ways. While most of the combat is melee-based, the art style, the hero-shooter mechanics, and the operating model all look extremely similar to these two top-tier titles. There’s potential for Marvel Rivals to surface as an esports game, as the core gameplay loop is centred around multiplayer combat.

It’s not yet known what kind of game modes or objectives will be featured in Marvel Rivals, but so far, it smacks of something extraordinary. There’s no way NetEase would have a roster of powerful superheroes and not write in some kind of fantastical, imaginative modes. It has already been suggested by recent leaks that more Marvel characters will be available post-launch, including the likes of Thor and Moon Knight. With a roster made up of hundreds of characters, there’s no limit to how far NetEase could take this title. Here’s the starting roster that seems to have been confirmed by a leaked game menu screenshot:

• Magneto
• Spider-Man
• Iron Man
• Luna Snow
• Magik
• Groot
• Black Panther
• Rocket Raccoon
• Mantis
• Doctor Strange
• Loki
• Storm
• The Punisher
• Bruce Banner

All the character designs thus far are either original or lean heavily into the comic books’ stylisation. There’s no effort to copy any designs from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which old-school fans will appreciate. In the screenshot, there was a ‘Season’ and a ‘Store’ tab revealed, showing that there will be microtransactions and a season pass structure in the game. This gives further credence to the claim that Marvel Rivals will be a live service title. NetEase is scheduled to reveal Marvel Rivals today at 8 am PT / 3 pm GMT, so we’ll know more then – stay tuned.