NetEase Games’ Marvel Rivals is making waves in the gaming world right now. The Chinese publisher has announced that their free-to-play multiplayer sensation has topped an impressive 40 million players, maintaining its status as one of the most-played games across all platforms. Excitingly, the game is gearing up for a midseason update that will introduce The Thing and Human Torch, completing the addition of the Fantastic Four family this season.
Recently, I got my hands on a preview build of this upcoming update. Diving into the gameplay with these new iconic characters, I explored how they stack up against the already expansive roster of heroes.
Let’s talk about Johnny Storm, better known as the Human Torch. As a Duelist, he really lights up the battlefield. His talents shine when attacking from a distance, zipping around to take on backline foes and slipping out just as quickly. His ability to link fiery attacks on the ground makes him superb for blocking enemy moves and corralling opponents to less-than-desirable spots.
On the other hand, Ben Grimm, aka The Thing, steps into the fray as a formidable frontline Vanguard. He’s all about trading heavy punches with big hitters like The Hulk and Venom. I particularly enjoyed using his charging attack to launch adversaries into the air, allowing for some epic juggling moves with the right timing. While he may not win any races with his speed, his steadfast presence is enough to intimidate any frontline opponent.
This powerhouse duo is a fantastic addition to the back half of Season 1, and I can’t wait to see what strategies players will come up with. I can already envision teams that unite the whole Fantastic Four alongside Spider-Man and Luna Snow, or the intimidating sight of The Hulk, The Thing, and Thor rushing an enemy in unison.
In other developments, Marvel Rivals is also stepping up its tech game as one of the newest titles to receive NVIDIA DLSS 4 support, providing those with cutting-edge GPUs a nice performance boost.
However, this exciting update comes with mixed emotions, following news of layoffs affecting NetEase Games’ American team, who worked on Marvel Rivals. The reasons are not entirely clear, although Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad suggests geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China might partly explain it. Ahmad mentions it’s likely more about NetEase reorganizing its focus on Chinese development teams.
It’s disappointing and unfair that even with a game as successful as Marvel Rivals, talented developers face uncertainty in their careers. The sad reality is that this situation is becoming all too common in the gaming industry, with many skilled workers caught in a struggle for new opportunities.
Marvel Rivals continues to be a blast, and I eagerly anticipate more playtime with the Human Torch and The Thing once they become available to everyone. But it underscores the harsh truth that success in the gaming world doesn’t necessarily guarantee job security for its creators.
The threat of layoffs is a growing shadow over the entire gaming industry, and unless action is taken, it will keep expanding.
Marvel Rivals is currently free-to-play on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5, with The Human Torch and The Thing joining as part of the 1.5 Season update on February 21, 2025.
