Highlights

  • The Marvel Rivals closed beta will feature Adam Warlock and Venom as new playable characters and will introduce a new map and crossplay support for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
  • A new playable map, Tokyo 2099: Spider-Islands, will introduce thematic environmental destruction mechanics for more engaging gameplay.
  • More regions will have access to the closed beta playtest, including North America, Europe, and Asia.

The development team behind Marvel Rivals recently gave players a look into the upcoming closed beta test, shedding further light on its new playable characters and locations. Back in May, Marvel Rivals held a closed alpha test that let a select few try out the game's frantic 6-v-6 matchups ahead of its full release. There will be another opportunity to try out Marvel Rivals in July, when a closed beta will be held across multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. This is noteworthy, as the previous closed alpha test was only available on PC.

Earlier this week, the Marvel Rivals dev team opened up about the journey from May’s closed alpha to next month’s closed beta in a message to the title's already substantial fan base. According to this message, the upcoming Marvel Rivals closed beta will be over five times larger than the previous test, with the team expanding the server reach to include North America, Europe, and Asia. These servers have also been upgraded to a 60-tick rate for better performance during online match-ups. Marvel Rivals will now also support nine different languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, and Traditional Chinese.

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The Marvel Rivals development team also shared new details about the closed beta test’s new playable characters and their abilities. Venom is a Tank-like Vanguard character with incredible mobility, making him especially formidable when targeting an opposing team’s support characters. Meanwhile, Adam Warlock is a Strategist, able to link with teammates to share incoming damage and even revive them with his ultimate ability. These new heroes also bring with them new Team-Up Abilities: Venom, Spider-Man, and Peni Parker can perform "Symbiote Bond," while Adam Warlock, Star-Lord, and Mantis have access to the "Guardian Revival."

What To Expect From Marvel Rivals July Closed Beta Test

  • Adam Warlock and Venom will be available as playable characters.
  • TOKYO 2099: SPIDER-ISLANDS will be available as a new playable map.
  • Multiple language options including English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, and Traditional Chinese.
  • More regions will have access to the closed beta playtest including North America, Europe, and Asia.
  • Crossplay support for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

As mentioned before, Marvel Rivals’ closed beta test will introduce a new playable map in the form of Tokyo 2099: Spider-Islands. This exciting new location implements the development team’s "Thematic Environmental Destruction" feature through "Web Destruction," with Spider-Zero and Marvel Rivals character Peni Parker releasing an army of Spider-Bots to mitigate the ongoing devastation and keep particular structures from collapsing during matches. This will also be implemented in the existing Tokyo 2099: Shin-Shibuya map.

The Marvel Rivals development team has continued to address player feedback about the game’s UI and balancing. The beta will introduce a new Cosmic Selection pick/ban system, in which Galacta will grant favor or banish certain characters in the upper tiers of ranked play and for special events. There is also a new Past Lives system, which is a KO camera that allows players to see how they met their end. With the introduction of crossplay to Marvel Rivals, the beta will introduce new matchmaking features to ensure fair fights across multiple systems during the closed beta next month.