Marvel Rivals Dev: "We Focus on Development, Not Trolls"

Marvel Rivals developers address datamining rumors: no intentional trolling, just lots of ideas.

Dataminers recently uncovered a treasure trove of potential future characters within Marvel Rivals' code, sparking debate about their authenticity. Some suggested the developers were intentionally planting false leads. However, Marvel Rivals producer Weicong Wu and Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo clarified the situation.

Wu explained that the extensive character design process involves numerous concepts, prototypes, and trials, leaving remnants in the code. The presence of a character's data doesn't guarantee its inclusion in the game. Future additions depend heavily on player feedback and desired gameplay experiences.

Koo likened the situation to finding a discarded notebook filled with brainstorming notes, emphasizing that the team experiments with various play styles and heroes. He directly denied any intentional trolling, stating that their time is better spent developing the game itself.

The development team plans updates approximately one year in advance, aiming for a new character release every six weeks. Character selection involves a multi-stage process. NetEase first identifies character types and skill sets needed to maintain game balance and roster diversity. These suggestions are then presented to Marvel Games, factoring in community interest and upcoming Marvel projects (films, comics). This explains the extensive list of characters found in the code – a reflection of NetEase's ongoing brainstorming.

The game's success continues with the upcoming addition of Human Torch and The Thing on February 21st. Discussions also touched upon the potential for a Nintendo Switch 2 release (details available in a separate article). In short, while the datamined characters are intriguing, players should approach them with cautious optimism.