Marvel Rivals' highly anticipated release is less than a week away. A collaboration between NetEase Games and Marvel Entertainment,Marvel Rivalsis a free-to-play third-person hero shooter. The game will feature 33 unique, playable heroes and villains from across the Marvel multiverse at launch. WhileMarvel Rivalshad held off on revealing the entirety of this roster, the game’s latest trailer showcased the remaining five characters that fans will be able to play as.
The latest batch ofcharacters confirmed to be coming toMarvel Rivalsincludes Wolverine, Black Widow, Squirrel Girl, Iron Fist, and Cloak and Dagger — the two of which will function as a single playable character. The addition of Wolverine checked a huge item off fans' wish lists. The scruffy, adamantium-infused mutant has been one of Marvel’s most popular characters since his introduction in 1974. This year especially has proven Wolverine’s staying power thanks to the popularity of bothX-Men ‘97andDeadpool & Wolverine. WhileMarvel Rivalshas finally revealed all 33 of its characters, Wolverine’s presence on the roster is the perfect setup for another beloved mutant to join in on the action.
An X-Force Reunion in Marvel Rivals
Wolverine might be the most well-known mutant onMarvel Rivals’ lineup, but there are several other characters from the X-Men side of the Marvel universe that fans will be able to play as. Magneto, Storm, Psylocke, and Magik are all confirmed to be available at launch. Considering how little the mutants were able to interact with other Marvel characters in non-comic media during theFox X-Men days, fans are excited to see these characters in Marvel Rivals. That said, the presence of lesser-known mutants like Psylocke and Magik has made Deadpool’s absence all the more noticeable.
The Power of Deadpool’s Popularity
While Wolverine is an all-time fan favorite for Marvel, Deadpool has proven to be this year’s MVP. Despite the widespread superhero fatigue among audience members,Deadpool & Wolverinestill brought in $1.3 billion during its worldwide theatrical run, making it the second highest-grossing movie of the year. Thanks to his appearances in popular films, comics, video games, and evenDisneyland, Deadpoolhas become one of the most notable Marvel characters of the 21st century. Adding Deadpool toMarvel Rivalsseems like an obvious move, as it would allow the game to capitalize on the character’s continued success.
How Deadpool Could Fit Into Marvel Rivals' Roster
Besides his name recognition, Deadpool is a character that would slot perfectly intoMarvel Rivalsfrom both a gameplay and tonal perspective. The game’s tone already doesn’t seem to be taking itself too seriously thanks to its zany art style and the inclusion ofcharacters like Jeff the Land Sharkand Galacta. Considering the number of one-liners thrown out by characters like Spider-Man and Iron Man during matches, the merc with a mouth is already primed for some fun in-game dialogue.
On the topic of dialogue,Marvel Rivalscould allow for some entertaining interactions between Deadpool and other members of the roster. X-Men fans already know just how crazy Deadpool can drive his fellow mutants. Deadpool constantly annoying Wolverine throughout a match would be a fun way to depict their dynamic, andMarvel Rivalscould even have it impact gameplay. Plenty of established duos like Rocket Raccoon and Groot or Spider-Man and Venom have team-up moves that they can perform together while fighting the enemy team.
ThoughMarvel Rivalshas yet to announce any of the characters that will be added to the game post-launch, Deadpool seems like a likely choice. It would be shocking if Marvel Entertainment benched the lead from theMCU’s most profitable phase 5 project, and the confirmation of one-half ofDeadpool & Wolverine’s titular duo inMarvel Rivalspresents the perfect opportunity for Deadpool to join the game. More news aboutMarvel Rivals' future is sure to follow the game’s release on December 6 of this year, and fans will have to wait and see if Deadpool rears his head after launch.
Marvel Rivals
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Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!A Deep and Varied Marvel RosterChoose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game DynamicsWith intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there’s never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.Dynamic Hero SynergyCoordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!Creative Environment DestructionTear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch UpdatesThe Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
