Marvel Rivals Reveals New 18v18 Game Mode

NetEase Games has given players their first look at the upcoming 18v18 Annihilation game mode in Marvel Rivals, which will feature a brand-new map called Grand Garden. With the launch of Season 5, Marvel Rivals added Gambit to the roster as a Strategist, which came as quite a surprise to many people who expected the character to be a Duelist. Gamers can also expect to see the popular X-Men character Rogue come to the title during December’s major mid-season update.

In addition to the new game mode, players will soon be able to participate in Marvel Rivals‘ Anniversary Celebration, which will give fans the opportunity to claim both currency and skins. The event will kick off on November 27, and it seems as if NetEase Games will be furnishing players with 2,400 Units as a way of thanking the community for a successful first year on the market. While Units can’t be used to purchase everything (like the Season 5 battle pass), the currency can be used in the shop to buy skins and various cosmetic bundles. Gamers will also be able to add a new legendary skin for Jeff the Land Shark to their collection of cosmetics, giving the goofy little mascot a business makeover that shows him sporting a suit and tie. Several new anniversary skins will also be coming to the game’s shop in the coming weeks.

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Marvel Rivals Reveals 18v18 Annihilation Mode

NetEase Games has released a brand-new trailer giving players their first look at the upcoming 18v18 Annihilation game mode in Marvel Rivals. The mode looks to be fairly unique, as 36 players will face off on the new Grand Garden map. Another recent trailer showed off the Grand Garden map in its entirety, and it seems to be a bit larger than normal. The increased size of the map is likely meant to accommodate the large number of players that will be battling on it, because it’s definitely going to get crowded. So far, it’s unclear if the game mode comes with any specific rules or restrictions. In the trailer, there is a moment where Marvel Rivals‘ Scarlet Witch can be seen floating above a bunch of Jeff the Land Sharks before using her ultimate ability. This could indicate that players will be able to choose the same hero more than once, though NetEase Games hasn’t officially confirmed that information. Fortunately, gamers won’t have to wait long to experience the new mode for themselves, as it will be making its official debut on November 27.

While the new game mode looks to be a bit chaotic, NetEase Games has found quite a bit of success with unique experiences in the past. Most recently, Marvel Rivals launched a PvE mode as part of a crossover with the hit Disney+ show Marvel Zombies. The mode was so well received that the game saw a significant player spike, which caused NetEase Games to extend the window of its availability. The developers also stated that similar PvE game modes are also in the works, though there’s no way of knowing when players will actually be able to get their hands on them just yet. Some players are already wondering if NetEase Games will bring back Jeff the Land Shark’s special winter game mode, which saw two teams (composed entirely of Jeffs) face off against one another in an attempt to cover the entire map in frost.

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While many people seem to be enjoying Season 5, a lot of players are already looking toward the future. A recent leak suggested that Deadpool could be coming to Marvel Rivals in Season 6, which will likely make its debut in early 2026. That’s not all, as it seems like Elsa Bloodstone could be added to the popular hero shooter’s ever-expanding roster as well. There’s no way of knowing which roles these heroes might fill, but some gamers seem hopeful that Elsa Bloodstone will be a Vanguard. As with all rumors, players should take this information with a grain of salt until NetEase Games makes an official announcement. With so much content to enjoy and even more coming just around the corner, many fans are feeling optimistic about the future of Marvel Rivals.

Released

December 6, 2024

ESRB

T For Teen // Violence

Developer(s)

NetEase Games

Publisher(s)

NetEase Games