Marvel Rivals has been quite the hit since it launched last December, and it looks like the developers at NetEase are not slowing down. They have exciting plans in the works for the game, kicking off with the announcement of Season 2: Hellfire Gala. Fans can expect some fresh updates, including new team-up abilities and the introduction of a new playable hero every month starting with the third season.
Further details about Season 2 were shared in a Dev Diary, alongside a cinematic trailer that emphasized the Hellfire Gala theme. The celebration on Krakoa Island, highlighting Marvel heroes and their Mutant counterparts, sets the stage for new battle pass skins. Emma Frost and Ultron are set to join the roster of playable characters this season. However, the real intrigue lies in a hidden detail within the trailer, suggesting potential major developments for the ongoing Marvel Rivals narrative.
The trailer seems to tease a possible collaboration between two of Marvel’s notorious figures: Doom and Loki. Just as Ultron crashes the island party, the film pans over several prominent guests. Among them, Magneto dressed in his House of M outfit stands with his daughter Scarlet Witch, while Wolverine, disguised as Patch, observes the gathering. Likewise, Loki, donned in his Presidential Attire, is seen chatting with a shadowy figure. This figure is revealed to be Doom 2099, one of the game’s key antagonists.
To grasp the potential impact of this teaser, it’s useful to revisit the current storyline. The plot initially began with Doom and his 2099 variant distorting the flow of time and space, giving rise to the Timestream Entanglement, where multiple universes and dimensions intersect. Within one of these realms, Odin’s slumber in the Odinsleep allows Loki to seize power, banishing Thor to a different reality with help from Hela and taking the throne of Yggsgard. The twist lies in the discovery of Yggdrasil’s sap being infused with Chronovium, an element allowing Loki to see beyond the present.
In Season 1, Doom provides Chronovium to Dracula, who briefly conquers New York using it alongside the Darkhold. Based on the Season 2 preview, it appears Ultron aims to create his ideal “Age of Ultron,” seeking to eliminate both humans and Mutants and replace them with artificial beings. It’s plausible that Doom is aiding Ultron as a means to distract the heroes while consolidating his power over the Timestream Entanglement. Moreover, it looks like Loki could become another key player in Doom’s schemes, potentially gaining new powers and causing chaos across Yggsgard in future updates. This narrative development could be the platform to introduce characters like Valkyrie and Angela, rumored to join the Marvel Rivals universe.
Moreover, Marvel Rivals has adjusted its seasonal cycle to span two months instead of three, which suggests that we might see teasers for upcoming seasons more frequently. With these rapid changes, NetEase aims to keep players engaged and eager for what’s next in this evolving gaming saga.
