Marvel Rivals developers address datamining rumors: no intentional trolling, just a lot of ideas.
Dataminers recently unearthed a treasure trove of potential future characters within Marvel Rivals' code, sparking debate about their authenticity. Some suggested the developers were intentionally planting false leads. However, Marvel Rivals producer Weicong Wu and Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo clarified the situation.
While acknowledging the presence of numerous character names in the code, Wu explained that this reflects the extensive design process. Many concepts, prototypes, and development iterations leave traces in the code, some of which may or may not make it into the final game. The ultimate inclusion depends heavily on player feedback and the desired gameplay experience.
Koo likened the situation to finding a discarded notebook filled with brainstorming notes, emphasizing that the team experiments extensively with various play styles and heroes. He explicitly denied any intentional misleading of dataminers, stating that the team prioritizes game development over elaborate pranks.
The selection process for new characters involves a year-long planning horizon, aiming for a new hero roughly every six weeks. NetEase first assesses the roster's balance and variety needs, generating a list of potential additions. This list is then presented to Marvel Games, considering community enthusiasm and upcoming Marvel projects (films, comics) for potential synergy. This explains the abundance of names in the code – a reflection of NetEase's ongoing brainstorming.
The game's continued success is evident, with the recent addition of the Fantastic Four and the upcoming arrival of the Human Torch and The Thing on February 21st. The developers' commitment to regular updates and balancing through new characters rather than extensive character adjustments ensures a consistently fresh and engaging experience. Further details about a potential Nintendo Switch 2 release are available in a separate article.
