Summary
Marvel Rivals, the upcoming team shooter game being developed and published by NetEase, has finally reached its long-awaited release date. Much like itspredecessor team shooters likeOverwatch,Rivalswill see some of the most iconic Marvel superheroes and villains face off against each other in a 6v6 team arena shooter setting.
Marvel Rivals is officially slated to release on June 27, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Officially announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, a reveal at the end of the trailer highlights another potential character, Dr. Doom, which was announced previously in a trailer. In addition to announcing that the highly-anticipated team shooter will be released in 2024, the short segment also displayed some new gameplay and cinematics for both Captain America, Winter Soldier, and Black Panther.
Perhaps the biggest news is that also allMarvel Rivalscharacters will be free to play upon release, and for the forseeable future. In an industry where the Battle Pass system typically locks heroes behind paywalls, this is great news.Rivalshave been in closed beta since July 2024, with YouTube videos that already reveal some of the core content and gameplay that players can expect. The news also highlights Dr. Doom but does not reveal much about his moves or abilities or whether he will serve as the antagonist or be playable in the future.
Marvel Rivals Closed Beta Preview: Saves The Day From Monotonous Hero Shooters
The Marvel Rivals closed beta already feels like the next step in engaging hero shooters with its tight cooperative gameplay and refreshing mechanics.
Doctor Doom Makes A Brief Appearance At The End Of The Trailer
The MCU’s Upcoming Big Bad
The Marvel’s Rivalsglimpse of Doctor Doom at the end of the trailer at Gamescom is fitting, considering thecharacter has been pegged as the main villain in theupcomingAvengersmovie titledAvengers: Doomsday. Classically, Doctor Doom has been a central antagonist in theFantastic Fourfranchise of movies, shows, and comics but has also been featured in a variety of other Marvel titles, includingPunisherandThe Spectacular Spider-Man.
Marvel Rivalswill seeDoctor Doom clash with his future self from 2099using what’s known as Timestream Entanglement to force universes to collide with each other, causing havoc and chaos across the entire Marvel universe. This opens the door for more potential and the possibility for different variations and iterations of heroes and villains across theMCU. The news that Doom will also be the titular villain in the upcoming movie brings bothMarvel RivalsandAvengers: Doomsdaytogether to create a cohesive experience for fans.
