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Marvel Rivals had a successful 2025, netting a nomination for Best Ongoing Game at The Game Awards and steadily building its player base. However, NetEase has said the first year is just the beginning, with plans for the future in 2026 and beyond already in motion.
In recent developer interviews, the team has been clear that a lot more is on the horizon. While details on specific content are still scarce, it’s becoming more evident that players can expect increased variety, additional modes, and new ways to play.
Expect more updates in 2026
Executive Producer Danny Koo has confirmed that NetEase has no plans to coast for a while. It has a year’s worth of updates planned out already, though, so regular content is going to be the norm.
In addition to the expected new heroes and seasonal events, 2026 will focus on new game modes. Modes like Marvel Zombies and 18v18 Annihilation have been successful, and their popularity is clearly part of the thinking.
Zombies focused on cooperative play, while the absurdly large Annihilation mode demonstrated that there was room for both larger, more casual games and traditional competitive matches.
Supporting different playstyles
The goal from here on out is to accommodate different types of players, the team at NetEase said, rather than funnel everyone toward the same experience. That means more:
- Co-op focused modes like Marvel Zombies
- Large scale, high energy modes like 18v18 Annihilation
- Hero shooter staples and balance patches
NetEase has also said that popular modes that players really like might stick around permanently if they do well, rather than being a limited-time seasonal event.
Heroes, maps, and addressing player feedback
Deadpool and Elsa Bloodstone are already confirmed as heroes for Season 6, with Cyclops teased in the most recent cinematics. Meanwhile, players have been clear about some of the other areas they would like to see more variety in as well.
Some of the most common requests in the community include:
- Maps for the core game modes to mix things upInteractive things to do in the Times Square hub
- Expanded community engagement through things like voting or in-game events
NetEase has listened, and it sounds like player response will be more closely considered moving forward.
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