May 22, 2025, sees a new update released in Marvel Rivals, introducing the last major cosmetic additions and gameplay changes before Season 2.5 drops next week. Multiple features and fixes seen in this update are in preparation for the halfway point of the Hellfire Gala season. As a result, the ongoing event has also been adjusted, creating a lot of changes that might surprise players at first. 541n39

Marvel Rivals is set to introduce the menacing Ultron as a new Strategist character with the launch of Season 2.5, and the game is also adding one of the most requested team-up abilities. The game has seen a steady stream of characters, maps, modes, and balance changes — all for free. With the midpoint of Season 2 almost here, fans can look forward to how this new update shakes up the game. There are some pretty sizable shifts incoming, a lot of which were based on player .

When players reach rank Gold 3 in Marvel Rivals' Competitive mode in Season 2, they can coordinate with their team to ban specific characters before a match starts. The most banned heroes in Season 2 reflect what counters a team might have to prepare for if those characters are still allowed. Knowing what heroes are voted for the most in a ban pick can help teams better adjust their composition.

An outstanding Marvel Rivals fan concept art for an Invisible Woman skin, based on a design by Marvel Comics writer and artist Peach Momoko, is getting a big thumbs up from fans. Invisible Woman ed the roster at the beginning of Marvel Rivals Season 1, and since her entrance into the game, she has quickly become a fan favorite and one of the most played characters in the game. With that popularity comes several skins, including her Malice dark version and a wedding dress. Now, fans seem to be desiring this cool Momoko-inspired skin.

Marvel Rivals has quickly become one of the most popular multiplayer games. The game's unique, third-person take on the hero shooter sub-genre, mixed with the huge Marvel IP, has been a winning combination, for the most part. Even with the Season 2 launch back in April and subsequent updates since, the game hasn't overcome its central balance problems. Characters like Magneto, Human Torch, and Luna Snow are becoming almost instant bans in Competitive play, while Black Widow barely sees any play.

Marvel Rivals is getting its next big update tomorrow, and it's one that is exciting fans a great deal. Marvel Rivals Season 2 brought several character and system changes, but the game has consistently gotten updates in between major seasonal content. While this new update only has a couple of balance changes, it does contain several features that fans have been asking for since the hero shooter's launch back in December 2024, but the lack of major balance changes also brings some concern from hardcore players.

Marvel Rivals recently introduced a controversial new item for competitive play: the Chrono Shield Card. This is, effectively, a more powerful, if rarer, item that allows players to prevent point loss after losing ranked matches. In other words, it allows you to stay at higher ranks for longer, even after a bad losing streak. The introduction of this item has met with controversy from Marvel Rivals players, many of whom accused the game of pay-to-win practices. The game's official social media channels later released a statement of clarification claiming that Chrono Shield Cards wouldn't be available for purchase.

Marvel Rivals has seen a steady stream of gameplay and cosmetic updates since its release in December 2024, but now, it seems like some fans think one character is getting more attention than all the others, at least when it comes to the number of skins being added. Marvel Rivals is a completely free-to-play hero shooter, with all gameplay elements, like maps, modes, and characters, being added for free. Most of the game's cosmetics are an additional purchase, and after the announcement of another pair of skins coming soon, fans are questioning the fairness of the game's skin economy.

Alongside multiple Season 2 updates, Marvel Rivals has given players the option to gift costumes from their favorite characters to any of their friends. Cosmetic bundles offered through the Store can be purchased for someone else, giving them access to new skins for any hero. However, the process behind gifting skins is a little complicated, with several requirements and steps you have to follow.

The introduction of Chrono Shield Cards to Marvel Rivalshas caused controversy in the community, adding fuel to the fire where Rivals' handling of ranked multiplayer matches is concerned. To celebrate the first anniversary of Marvel Rivals' early access period, the game is currently holding a special event called Galacta's Gift. In a specially structured rewards program, beginning today, May 15, players can earn a variety of different rewards, including nameplates, costume coins, sprays, and two controversial items designed to simplify the Competitive experience, which some players say could have a disastrous effect on the community.