Marvel Rivals has truly managed to keep its momentum going since its launch last December, yet the creators at NetEase aren’t pausing to celebrate just yet. The announcement of Marvel Rivals Season 2: Hellfire Gala promises a wave of new features to keep players engaged, including innovative team-up abilities and the exciting launch of a new hero every month starting from Season 3.
Last week’s Dev Diary was paired with a cinematic trailer spotlighting Season 2, putting the Hellfire Gala theme right at the forefront. As iconic Marvel heroes gather to honor Mutant culture on the vibrant island of Krakoa, players got a sneak peek at new battle pass skins. Plus, it was confirmed that Emma Frost and Ultron are joining the roster as playable characters for this season. However, there’s something intriguing hidden in the Season 2 trailer that could greatly influence the narrative direction of Marvel Rivals.
The trailer hinting at Marvel Rivals Season 2 might suggest a possible collaboration between Doom and Loki. As the trailer unfolds, you see scenes of a festive celebration among super-powered attendees. In the spotlight are Magneto, donned in his House of M attire, and his daughter Scarlet Witch. Wolverine casually leans against a pillar, dressed in his clandestine “Patch” look. Loki appears to be involved in a discussion with a mysterious and imposing figure that we quickly recognize as Doom 2099, a central antagonist in the Marvel Rivals storyline.
This teaser could imply significant developments for the game’s future. To grasp its potential impact, let’s recap Marvel Rivals’ storyline so far. The narrative kicks off with Doom and his 2099 version meddling with the fabric of time and space, sparking a colossal crisis known as the Timestream Entanglement, merging timelines and dimensions. In one of these alternate realities, Odin is in Odinsleep, leading Loki to usurp power. With Hela’s aid, Loki shunts Thor into another realm and seizes Yggsgard’s throne. The sap of the Yggdrasil tree has absorbed Chronovium post-Timestream Entanglement, enabling Loki to foresee the future.
In the first season, we saw Doom supply Chronovium to Dracula, allowing the vampire to briefly seize control over New York with the Darkhold. From the trailer, Season 2 seems poised for Ultron’s “Age of Ultron,” where he endeavors to obliterate humans and Mutants in favor of AI, potentially aided by one of the Dooms orchestrating from behind.
Adding to the intrigue, Loki might become a crucial pawn for Doom and possibly acquire new powers, leading to more chaos in Yggsgard. This scenario sets the stage for bringing in Valkyrie and Angela, two characters speculated to join Marvel Rivals soon.
Adapting to a compact two-month season cycle, NetEase is keen on dropping hints for future seasons, which will now appear more frequently.
In gaming releases, Marvel Rivals delivers a third-person shooter experience that blends action and multiplayer elements, bringing fresh zest to Marvel fans on December 6, 2024, with commendable efforts by developer NetEase Games.
