Marvel Rivals promises that every superhero and villain in its lineup will be free to play, as NetEase explained how they’ll make money from the game.
In a recent “Dev Talk” blog post, NetEase shared details on the monetization plan for their upcoming hero shooter. The game will sell only cosmetic items, which you can buy using Latice, the premium currency, or earn with free Units. Players can purchase individual costumes or go for bundles that include extras like MVP animations, emotes, a spray, and a nameplate, all at a cheaper rate.
“The team has poured immense effort into designing and crafting these in-game cosmetics, many of which draw inspiration from Marvel’s iconic comics, films, and other works,” NetEase said. “These items are not only a tribute to Marvel’s artistic legacy but also a way for us to reinterpret and capture different facets of the Marvel universe.”
Anyone can jump into the game and play as more than 30 characters, with more coming in future updates, all for free. New characters, maps, and gameplay updates won’t cost a dime either, according to NetEase.
Battle passes are part of the package too, but there’s a twist: they don’t expire with the season. Like in Halo Infinite, you can keep working on older battle passes even after the season ends.
The first Season 0 battle pass is shorter and costs half the usual price, about $5, compared to the standard $10. The fancy, or Luxury, version of this pass offers five costumes and other goodies, while the free pass gives one epic costume plus some extras.
Other free cosmetics can be unlocked through achievements and events. Units can be earned this way too, and they’re part of the Luxury battle pass.
Marvel Rivals, influenced by games like Overwatch, recently added Wolverine, Squirrel Girl, and Black Widow to its roster. The game launches December 6 on PC and consoles, or December 5 in North America, and you can download it now on PC.
