The Thing and Human Torch Set for February Release in Marvel Rivals

The anticipation for the next expansion of Marvel Rivals is heating up as The Fantastic Four team is set to be completed with the arrival of The Thing and Human Torch as playable characters on February 21, 2025. This exciting announcement was made alongside the reveal of an update for the second half of Season 1, although specifics about the Season 1.5 update remain under wraps. However, a Dev Talk blog post on the Marvel Rivals website hinted at "major balance adjustments" to keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.

While we eagerly await detailed information on how The Thing and Human Torch will impact the roster with their unique abilities, the earlier addition of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman during the launch of Season 1 showcased how new heroes can significantly alter the game's meta. Reed Richards brought his stretchy and goofy elastic powers to the fray, while Sue Storm introduced invisibility mechanics, adding new strategic layers to the multiplayer experience. Fans are hopeful that NetEase will soon unveil gameplay footage for the upcoming heroes to build even more excitement.

The upcoming update for Season 1 also includes a rank reset for Ranked players, with a four-division drop scheduled for February 21. For instance, a Diamond I player will find themselves at Platinum II the following day. NetEase has outlined that future seasons will implement a six-division drop at the start of new seasons, and a four-division drop for half-season updates. They are committed to refining the Ranked system based on player feedback and will "tune this as necessary."

On a brighter note, competitive players in the Gold rank have something to look forward to with new costume rewards launching in the second half of Season 1. Additionally, new Crests of Honor will be introduced to honor top-tier players at Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All levels (the top 500).

The superhero community has been buzzing with anticipation for more details on Marvel Rivals' post-launch plans, and the addition of The Fantastic Four is just the tip of the iceberg. Last month, creative director Guangyun Chen ignited excitement by promising to release a new playable character every half-season. This means that every six weeks, fans can expect a new Marvel hero to join the battle, keeping the game dynamic and engaging. There’s strong evidence to suggest the vampire-hunting Daywalker Blade could be next in line, though amidst some rumors and leaks that have had players debating for weeks, the future of Marvel Rivals remains shrouded in mystery.

While you wait for the mid-season update to shake things up, you can explore our current Marvel Rivals Season 1 tier list to find out the best characters. Additionally, delve into how the original Season 1 patch transformed the meta, and understand the community's fervor surrounding Marvel Rivals' alleged bot issue.