“The game is never dying”: Marvel Rivals’ Surprise Reveal of the Fantastic Four Delivers Ultimate Fan Service

SUMMARY

• NetEase Games just dropped a bombshell announcement that has Marvel Rivals players theorizing about what Season 1 might bring to the table.
• The community's overwhelmingly positive reaction suggests the developers understand exactly what hero shooter fans have been craving.
• With four new heroes and potential map additions on the horizon, Marvel Rivals is setting new standards for content delivery in the genre.

When Marvel Rivals stormed onto the scene last month, it didn’t just enter the hero shooter arena—it completely rewrote the rulebook. With 20 million players diving into the action within two weeks, NetEase Games proved they weren’t here to play it safe.

This roster is about to get a whole lot bigger. | Image Credit: NetEase Games

Now, just days before Season 1 kicks off, they’ve pulled off their boldest move yet. Not content with drip-feeding content like their competitors, NetEase is bringing Marvel’s First Family to the battlefield. And in true Fantastic Four fashion, they’re most likely doing it as a team!

Marvel Rivals’ Fantastic Four-pack changes everything

The official artwork dropped just hours ago, and it’s everything Marvel Rivals fans could have hoped for. The Thing’s craggy orange hide contrasts beautifully with Human Torch’s ethereal flames, while Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman look ready for action in their signature uniforms.

Even H.E.R.B.I.E. makes an adorable appearance, clinging nervously to the Fantasti-Car while Sue comforts the anxious robot, as they soar past the Baxter Building. Speaking of Sue, her design looks absolutely Fantastic™, and Strategist mains are likely already “theorizing” how she might finally end Dagger’s iron grip on the current “meta”:

Get ready to welcome Marvel’s First family in Marvel Rivals. Trailer on January 6th at 8:00 AM PST / 16:00 UTC. Be there. #MarvelRivals #FantasticFour #NewYorkCity pic.twitter.com/4Cjh9mXSi3

According to recent leaks, each member of the team brings something unique to the battlefield. The Thing joins the game’s underrepresented Vanguard roster, while Human Torch and Mr. Fantastic are set to shake up the Duelist meta with their mobility-focused kits. Sue Storm rounds out the team as a Strategist, potentially introducing new zone control mechanics with her force field abilities.

Needless to say, the community’s reaction has been nothing short of electric:

And who can blame them? Early leaks hint at Johnny Storm’s devastating wall-of-flame mechanics, while Reed’s elastic abilities promise some truly mind-bending plays:

The excitement isn’t just about quantity—it’s about the possibilities these heroes bring to the game:

With Marvel‘s vast universe at their disposal and a clear commitment to rapid content delivery, NetEase is positioning Marvel Rivals for the long haul. The real challenge won’t be finding new heroes to add—it’ll be keeping the game balanced as the roster expands.

A new era for hero shooters begins

Hulk-smashing the competition. | Image Credit: NetEase Games

The timing of this announcement isn’t just perfect—it’s calculated. With Marvel Rivals already dominating Twitch viewership and tournament organizers scrambling to add it to their 2025 lineup, the addition of the Fantastic Four could cement its position as the new competitive standard.

The nostalgia factor can’t be ignored either. For many players who grew up reading Fantastic Four comics or watching the animated series, this is more than just a content update:

The contrast with other hero shooters is impossible to ignore:

Let’s be honest—the hero shooter genre has been crying out for a shake-up. While Overwatch 2 promised the moon and delivered a handful of stardust (remember that mythical PvE mode?), Marvel Rivals is giving players exactly what they want: pure, unadulterated superhero action without the corporate handcuffs.

And early datamines suggest we’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg. With Ultron reportedly waiting in the wings and those suspicious vampire teases in the announcement art (anyone else notice the blood-red moon?), Season 1 is shaping up to be a game-changer in the most literal sense.

What’s your take on the Fantastic Four joining Marvel Rivals? Which member of the First Family are you most excited to play as? Let us know in the comments below!

Written by Soumyajit Mukherjee

Articles Published: 433

Soumyajit (IGN: LockDown) is a die-hard PC gaming enthusiast with an insatiable appetite for competitive excellence. A former R6 Siege competitor turned variety gamer, he's made it his mission to master every multiplayer title he touches. Currently, when he's not writing or dominating Marvel Rivals lobbies, you'll find him dissecting the latest superhero films or binging anime and thriller series.