The Marvel Rivals team believes there are too many Marvel characters already.
With Marvel Rivals continuing to expand its roster at a rapid pace, players wondering about original, game-only heroes may have to wait. According to an interview with creative director Guangyun “GuangGuang” Chen and executive producer Danny Koo reported by IGN, NetEase Games is doubling down on Marvel’s existing catalogue instead of introducing brand-new characters.
“We have so many right now,” executive producer Danny Koo said, referring to the existing characters from Marvel. “It’s not the time.”
That stance comes as the hero shooter pushes forward with its live-service model, which continues to deliver a steady stream of characters pulled from decades of Marvel history.
Marvel Rivals
Release Date: 5 December, 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Developer: Netease
Why isn't NetEase adding original heroes to Marvel Rivals?
Koo reiterated that while NetEase have permission to create original characters, the current priority is making full use of Marvel’s extensive roster. As he put it, “we have so many right now,” signaling that existing heroes remain more than enough to sustain upcoming content drops.
The game’s release structure of adding new heroes regularly across two-month seasons means that the pipeline is already filled with recognisable names. Recent additions include Deadpool, Gambit, Angela, Elsa Bloodstone, and Daredevil, offering a wide range of playstyles tied to familiar characters.
Season 7 introduced White Fox as hero 48, with Spiderman regular Black Cat set to follow in Season 7.5. Future heroes 50 and 51 remain unconfirmed, but Koo noted that selection is driven by gameplay variety. “If someone is too similar, then it’s not that exciting,” he said, adding that multiple characters with overlapping kits would dilute the experience.
As the hero pool continues to expand, NetEase are more concerned with accessibility than balance. GuangGuang dismissed concerns about scale, stating, “it’s not a very huge number… and we can handle it.”
Koo echoed that sentiment but pointed to UI as the real hurdle. “I don't think heroes will be a problem… it's more about UI optimisation,” he said, highlighting the need to help players quickly access preferred characters each season. Drawing from experience with other Marvel titles featuring “over 200 to 300 characters,” he added that growth “is not going to slow down.”
Is Marvel Rivals getting original heroes in the future?
Although not part of the immediate roadmap, original heroes are still a possibility. Koo confirmed that NetEase have the ability to create them if the opportunity arises, but timing remains the deciding factor. For now, the focus stays firmly on Marvel’s established universe, with no indication that a NetEase-created character will appear in upcoming seasons, including the expected Season 8 rollout.
Upcoming Marvel Rivals IP crossovers
Despite ongoing speculation, Marvel Rivals will not branch out into non-Marvel collaborations. Koo addressed this directly: “Non-Marvel? We have so many characters in Marvel, [we’re] not looking at outside of Marvel.” Instead, the focus remains on internal collaborations within Marvel properties, including potential tie-ins with other Marvel games.
Beyond its growing roster, Marvel Rivals is also lining up its first major collaboration with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Path to Doomsday event begins in April, and will run through to the release of Avengers: Doomsday on 18 December.
Koo explained that content is planned roughly a year in advance to align with wider Marvel storylines, but stressed that “the game comes first.” While the crossover presents opportunities for tie-in content, gameplay direction will remain the priority.
