NetEase, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has been relatively conservative with its balance updates for the game thus far. While some troublesome heroes have been addressed and bug fixes implemented, the upcoming mid-season patch promises to shake things up with the introduction of the Human Torch and the Thing to the hero roster. This move indicates a shift towards addressing developing metas and pain points within the game, but whether this will have a positive or negative impact remains to be seen.
In a recent developer update, NetEase detailed the new features and balance changes scheduled for Marvel Rivals’ mid-season update on February 21 as part of Season 1. The headline additions are the Human Torch and the Thing, who will be joining the game as a Duelist and Vanguard, respectively. Alongside these new heroes, a new Central Park map will also be introduced, although details on the mode it will feature have not been disclosed yet.
Furthermore, in the latter half of Season 1, Marvel Rivals players will have the ability to convert excess Chrono Tokens, the currency used for battle pass unlocks, into Units, the game’s standard currency for purchasing cosmetics. However, NetEase has noted that this conversion will occur at a specific ratio, without specifying further details.
While full patch notes for the mid-season update have not been released, the developer update did highlight some key changes that players can expect. One significant adjustment addresses the prevalent “triple-Strategist” meta, which revolves around building a team consisting of half healing support heroes. This composition has dominated competitive play, prompting NetEase to make tweaks to reduce its dominance without completely undermining the strategy. Changes include adjustments to ultimate charge times for various heroes like Cloak & Dagger, Venom, and Magik to create a more balanced gameplay experience.
Lead Combat Designer Zhiyong elaborated on these alterations, emphasizing the team’s goal of maintaining an exhilarating game pace while preventing matches from becoming drawn out due to certain strategies. In addition to this, NetEase plans to reduce the survivability of heroes like Doctor Strange and Magneto, as well as implement moderate adjustments to Storm and Moon Knight. Moving forward, the developer intends to roll out major balance updates twice per season, with smaller adjustments addressing urgent issues in between these larger patches.
This wave of changes comes amidst reports of layoffs within NetEase’s team, despite the undeniable success of Marvel Rivals. The juxtaposition of game prosperity and internal restructuring raises questions about the fairness and sustainability of the system in place. As players eagerly anticipate the mid-season patch and the subsequent impact on gameplay dynamics, the evolving landscape of Marvel Rivals continues to intrigue and captivate fans worldwide.
