Marvel Rivals has become a smashing hit for Marvel, largely due to its extensive lineup of heroes that have captured the attention of fans everywhere. When the game launched last December, it already flaunted an impressive 33 playable characters—a number that’s set to rise as future updates roll in. The vast universe of Marvel’s comic books provides a treasure trove of heroes and villains just waiting to be brought into the game.
Besides being a fantastic standalone experience, Marvel Rivals serves a dual purpose. It’s an excellent platform to generate buzz for Marvel’s upcoming films. For instance, just ahead of the release of the movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the game introduced the Fantastic Four as new playable characters. More recently, Marvel Studios announced the star-studded cast of the highly anticipated film Avengers: Doomsday, slated for May 2026. Marvel Rivals stands poised to captivate fans and keep their excitement simmering till the film’s release.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the intriguing developments regarding Avengers: Doomsday. On March 26, Marvel Studios engaged fans in a unique reveal event—a long, five-hour stream gradually unveiling the cast at 15-minute intervals. This marathon session was both thrilling and slightly nerve-wracking for the audience. Among the illustrious cast, Robert Downey Jr. returns to play Doctor Doom, with Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, and a host of other beloved characters. Thunderbolts such as Yelena Belova (played by Florence Pugh) and US Agent (Wyatt Russell), along with X-Men’s Cyclops (James Marsden) and Professor X (Patrick Stewart), add to the richly varied lineup.
In scrutinizing this list, many will notice several characters not yet part of Marvel Rivals’ current roster. Given that there’s ample time before Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters, this seems like an optimal moment for the hero shooter to debut new characters aligned with the film’s lineup. Imagine the buzz around exclusive skin lines for characters that align with their cinematic counterparts, much like how Wolverine was paired with a Deadpool skin in the past. While expanding the game’s character roster and aesthetics, Marvel Rivals could serve as a clever promotional channel for Doomsday, ensuring fans remain engaged until the movie’s premiere.
Additionally, with Marvel set to roll out more movies and TV shows throughout the year, Marvel Rivals has plenty of fertile ground for inspiration. There are also rich storylines and characters from the comics yet to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, providing the game ample opportunity to introduce fresh, exciting heroes.
Despite being a comparatively newer game, Marvel Rivals continues to refine its gameplay by taking player feedback seriously and striving for a balanced experience. The thrill of possibly seeing new characters based on MCU’s slate keeps the anticipation high, offering NetEase Games—a name both developing and publishing the game—the chance to gauge moviegoer responses and integrate those dynamics into the game’s abilities. By doing so, Marvel Rivals could quietly become a vehicle ushering new fans into the MCU’s Phase 5 and the thrilling trajectory of Phase 6, potentially broadening its player base as a result.
