Dataminers delving into the code of Marvel Rivals have uncovered lists of potential future characters, sparking speculation that the developers, NetEase and Marvel, might be engaging in playful misdirection. However, both companies have firmly stated that their focus remains on the development of the game itself rather than on trolling the community.
Last month, the discovery of names like those from the Fantastic Four, who were soon officially announced, lent some credibility to the datamined information. As more names surfaced, rumors began to swirl that some might be deliberate decoys planted by the developers to mislead dataminers. The community remains divided on whether these names represent genuine future additions or mere red herrings.
In a recent interview, Marvel Rivals producer Weicong Wu and Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo addressed these speculations directly. Wu emphasized the complexity of character development, noting that numerous concepts and prototypes are created, some of which may or may not make it into the final game. "So firstly we want to say that we don't recommend anybody to make adjustments to the files [of the game]," Wu stated. He further explained that the presence of certain character names in the code could simply indicate past experimentation, not necessarily future plans.
Koo echoed this sentiment, likening the situation to someone finding an old notebook filled with ideas without understanding the context. When asked directly if they were trolling the community, Koo was clear: "No. We would rather spend our time developing the actual game."
During the same discussion, Wu and Koo outlined the process of selecting new characters for Marvel Rivals. The team plans updates about a year in advance, aiming to introduce new characters roughly every month and a half. NetEase focuses on balancing the game by adding new characters and experiences rather than extensively tweaking existing ones. They consider what type of character and skillset is needed to enhance the game's variety and balance, then collaborate with Marvel Games on initial designs. Community excitement and upcoming Marvel projects, such as films or comic arcs, also influence the final decision on character additions.
This approach explains the presence of numerous character names in the game's code, as NetEase continuously explores various ideas. Marvel Rivals has enjoyed a strong launch, with new characters like the Human Torch and The Thing set to join the roster on February 21, further enhancing the game's appeal. Additionally, Wu and Koo touched on the possibility of a Nintendo Switch 2 release, which you can read more about [ttpp].
