Marvel Rivals Dev Silences Dataminer Concerns

Dataminers exploring the code of Marvel Rivals believe developers are playfully misleading them with lists of potential future characters. However, NetEase and Marvel claim their focus is on game development, not elaborate trolling.

Last month, datamined character names, some seemingly confirmed with the Fantastic Four announcement, fueled speculation. However, the growing list sparked a debate: are some names intentionally deceptive? The community remains divided on the authenticity of these datamined characters.

We directly questioned Marvel Rivals producer Weicong Wu and Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo about this alleged "troll." While denying any deliberate deception, they advised caution regarding code-found names. Wu explained that the development process generates numerous concepts, prototypes, and trials, leaving traces in the code. Inclusion in future updates depends heavily on player feedback and desired gameplay experiences. Koo likened the situation to finding discarded notes from a brainstorming session. He emphasized their priority is game development, not elaborate pranks.

The character selection process, they revealed, involves a year-long planning horizon, aiming for a new character roughly every six weeks. Balancing the roster is key, focusing on adding variety and addressing existing character strengths and weaknesses. NetEase proposes potential additions, considering gameplay balance, then collaborates with Marvel Games on designs. Community interest and upcoming Marvel projects (films, comics) also influence final decisions. This explains the extensive list of characters in the code—a reflection of NetEase's ongoing ideation.

Marvel Rivals' launch was successful, and each addition strengthens the game. The Human Torch and The Thing are the latest additions, arriving February 21st. We also discussed a potential Nintendo Switch 2 release (details available elsewhere).