Marvel Rivals is Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Highlights

Marvel Rivals brings Marvel heroes to life in a 6v6 shooter, offering an exciting new take on the hero-shooter genre.
The game faces tough competition from established titles like Overwatch and Valorant, but has potential with the Marvel brand.
Success will depend on post-launch content and microtransactions - a delicate balance that could make or break the game.

Thanks to the MCU, Marvel projects seem to be everywhere these days. Not only has it dominated the movie and TV industries over the past decade, but there have also been a plethora of video games taking fans on exciting adventures. Fans have been treated to the likes of Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, and Marvel's Midnight Suns. And now, they will get their hands on a brand-new hero shooter in the form of Marvel Rivals.

Marvel Rivals will be putting players in the shoes of some of Marvel's most iconic heroes in a 6v6 shooter. It is being developed by NetEase Games and looks to share a lot of similarities with genre kingpins Overwatch 2 and Valorant, but with a Marvel skin attached. While it remains to be seen if that blend succeeds, there is a ton of potential for a title like this. However, if the studio is not careful, then the game might never be able to have the impact that it could.

Marvel Rivals Has to Be Careful Not to Get Swept Up in One Popular Multiverse Event

Marvel Rivals has tons of crossover potential for Marvel's most popular franchises, but the game should stay away from one major multiverse event.

Marvel Rivals Might Need to Do a Lot to Impress Hero Shooter Fans

Marvel Rivals is Entering a Crowded Market

One of the toughest challenges facing Marvel Rivals is the fact that it is currently entering a very competitive market. Since the release of Overwatch in 2016, Blizzard has been one of the biggest names in the genre. Even though Overwatch 2 may have proven controversial with the fanbase, it is seemingly still pretty popular, and with its consistent updates, that franchise does not seem to be slowing down any time soon.

Overwatch 2 is not the only hero shooter on the market, as Riot Games Valorant has also proven to be extremely successful with shooter fans. Alongside League of Legends, Valorant seems to be virtually unstoppable, raking in millions of dollars from cosmetics alone. Just like with Overwatch 2, it too receives steady updates with no sign of slowing down, giving players a reason to keep coming back for more.

Along with that, Respawn's battle royale Apex Legends is extremely popular, Rainbow Six Siege seems to be going nowhere, and popular IPs like Call of Duty have also adopted similar mechanics. While all of those successes do show a healthy and profitable genre, it also means that there is a lot of competition in store for Marvel Rivals. If the game does not offer something slightly new or unique, then players may have little reason to jump over.

Marvel Rivals Approach to Content Will Make or Break the Experience

Marvel Rivals success will also be determined by the way NetEase handles its post-launch content and microtransaction model. Much like other entries in the genre, this title will be free-to-play, and since the developers also need to support the game somehow, it will likely be filled to the brim with microtransactions. The exact extent of these transactions has yet to be revealed. However, it will probably follow in the footsteps of similar games by letting players buy skins, emotes, and other cosmetic items.

If NetEase prices these microtransactions reasonably, then players will be more inclined to buy into them. But, if the game is oversaturated with them, and they are extremely expensive, then players might just turn their back on the game. Additionally, if new Marvel Rivals heroes are locked behind a paywall, fans may have less of a reason to check it out.

Along with that, NetEase needs to ensure that it is able to keep up a consistent post-launch update schedule. New content gives players a reason to keep playing, so if that support comes at a steady stream, then they will have less of a reason to go to other games. These updates have to actually introduce substantial content including heroes and maps, but with the decades of characters and stories Marvel Rivals can pull from, that should not be much of an issue.

Marvel Rivals has a chance to be the next big hero shooter, especially since it is attached to the Marvel brand. As long as the game offers something different from the crowd, is not oversaturated with microtransactions, and has quality post-launch support, then it could have some real staying power. Time will tell if that ends up being the case, or if the game simply ends up in the same boat as Square Enix's ill-fated Marvel's Avengers.