Marvel Rivals Dataminers Thrown Off Course by Leaked Hero Tags
Marvel Rivals' popularity has spawned a cottage industry of dataminers and leakers who delve into the game's code to uncover upcoming content. Shortly after launch, leaks emerged via "hero tags" within the code, predicting the arrival of the Fantastic Four, Blade, and X-Men characters.
However, such reports should be treated with caution. According to Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo, NetEase experimented with numerous play styles and heroes during development, leaving behind remnants in the code that may or may not materialize in the future.
"We’d rather spend our time developing the actual game," says Koo, downplaying the idea of a decade-long plan.
Producer Weicong Wu adds that character design involves a complex process that often yields unused ideas. These may appear in the code but do not necessarily indicate future release plans. Their appearance depends on player feedback and gameplay expectations.
The Marvel Rivals team prioritizes adding new characters to enhance gameplay rather than constantly tweaking existing ones. They also strive to align with the broader Marvel universe, incorporating heroes that connect with ongoing TV and movie projects.
While Marvel Rivals has generally maintained balance, occasional missteps have occurred, such as Storm's dominance in January. The game's diverse and ever-expanding roster of characters remains a major draw for players. However, it's unlikely that fan favorites like Soft Serve will make an appearance anytime soon.