Marvel Rivals Developers Commit to Launching a New Hero Approximately Every 45 Days to Maintain Enthusiasm

You might feel a twinge of envy, Overwatch enthusiasts, because the team behind Marvel Rivals is setting a high bar with their plan for regular hero updates.

A common gripe among Overwatch players is the lack of significant updates, especially when it comes to introducing new characters. So naturally, with the immense popularity of Marvel Rivals, the pressing question arises: can this game deliver what such players are looking for? It seems like, at least for now, NetEase is committed to trying. Game director Guangyun Chen recently shared some insights with Metro, diving into what it takes to create a successful live service game today. For players, the most thrilling takeaway is how frequently they intend to release new heroes.

When questioned about their plans for introducing new heroes annually, Chen elaborated, “We’ll roll out fresh seasonal stories, new maps, and of course, new heroes each season. We actually plan to split the season into two parts. Each season will last three months, and during each half, we’ll bring in a new hero. Our ultimate goal is to keep enhancing the experience and maintain excitement within our community.” To put it simply, NetEase aims to introduce a new hero about every 45 days. If they hit this mark, we could be looking at up to eight new heroes each year.

That’s an ambitious target and pretty optimistic, so we’ll have to wait and see if they can deliver. Currently, the game is in its first season, with Mister Fantastic and The Invisible Woman as the newcomers. They’ll soon be joined by the Human Torch and The Thing, completing the Fantastic Four lineup.

For those interested in how a live service game like this comes together, the full interview offers a fascinating look behind the scenes. Hopefully, the push for eight new heroes annually doesn’t mean excessive crunch time for the developers at NetEase.