Marvel Rivals Dev Says They're Not Trolling Dataminers - 'We'd Rather Spend Our Time Developing the Game'

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

Dataminers recently unearthed a treasure trove of potential future characters within Marvel Rivals' code. While some predictions proved accurate (like the Fantastic Four), the sheer volume of names sparked speculation: were some deliberately planted red herrings?

We posed this question directly to Marvel Rivals producer Weicong Wu and Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo. While denying any intentional misleading, they acknowledged the presence of numerous character concepts in the game's code. Wu explained that character design is a complex process involving numerous concepts, prototypes, and trials, leaving remnants in the code that may or may not reflect future plans. The final decision hinges on player expectations and maintaining balanced gameplay.

Koo likened the situation to finding a discarded notebook filled with brainstorming notes, emphasizing that the team explores various play styles and heroes. He stated unequivocally, "No. We would rather spend our time developing the actual game."

The character selection process, they revealed, involves a year-long planning horizon, aiming for a new character release every six weeks. NetEase prioritizes balancing the roster and adding variety, focusing on new character additions rather than extensive tweaking of existing ones. This strategy helps maintain freshness, address weaknesses, and counter overpowered characters.

NetEase proposes potential additions to Marvel Games, considering community interest and aligning with upcoming Marvel films or comic storylines. This explains the extensive list of characters in the code – a reflection of ongoing ideation and exploration.

Marvel Rivals continues to impress, with the Human Torch and The Thing set to join the roster on February 21st. The developers' commitment to regular updates and balanced gameplay ensures a continuously evolving and exciting experience. (Further details on a potential Nintendo Switch 2 release can be found in a separate article.)