Marvel Rivals developers address datamining rumors: No intentional trolling, just lots of ideas.
Dataminers recently uncovered a treasure trove of potential future characters within Marvel Rivals' code, sparking speculation about upcoming additions. Some datamined names were quickly confirmed (like the Fantastic Four), fueling excitement, while others led to a community debate: were these characters genuine possibilities, or deliberate red herrings planted by the developers?
To settle the matter, we directly questioned Marvel Rivals producer Weicong Wu and Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo about the possibility of a large-scale developer prank. While denying any intentional misleading, they acknowledged the presence of numerous character concepts within the game's code.
Wu explained that the extensive character design process generates a significant amount of data, including concepts, prototypes, and trials, some of which may remain in the code even if ultimately discarded. He emphasized that the inclusion of any character in future updates depends heavily on player feedback and the overall game balance.
Koo likened the situation to finding a discarded notebook filled with brainstorming notes, explaining that the team explores various play styles and heroes, leaving behind a trail of potential characters in the game's code. He stressed that the development team prioritizes creating the game itself over elaborate trolling.
The conversation also shed light on the character selection process. Updates are planned approximately a year in advance, aiming for a consistent release of new characters every six weeks. NetEase prioritizes maintaining game balance and roster diversity, considering character types and skill sets needed to complement existing heroes. They then present their suggestions to Marvel Games, factoring in community interest and upcoming Marvel projects (films, comics) to finalize their choices. The sheer number of ideas explored explains the extensive list of characters found in the code.
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 the game remains engaging and fresh. (Further discussion regarding a potential Nintendo Switch 2 release can be found in a separate article.)
