Marvel Rivals is learning from Fortnite as devs reveal long-term plans

Marvel Rivals devs NetEase have revealed their plans for the hero shooter’s future, and they’re set to take inspiration from what made Fortnite so successful.

It may have only launched in December 2024, but Marvel Rivals has already established itself as one of the best live service games around. After arriving with a powerful lineup of characters and fun gameplay loop, it’s only gone from strength to strength with each update, attracting millions of players along the way.

Now, the devs have revealed they aim to support the superhero shooter for years to come. One major part of their plans to build on the success is by following Fortnite’s lead and introducing major crossovers.

Marvel Rivals devs reveal crossover plans

In a financial report shared by NetEase, the team offered a brief insight into what their goals are going forward.

“Marvel Rivals has gained wide acclaim, especially after Season 1. NetEase plans to continue investing in development and marketing, with a long-term operational strategy,” they said in the document. “The team has plans for eSports and will announce these plans to enhance the gaming ecosystem. There will also be crossover events and promotions with other media to expand the user base.”

While they didn’t go into the specifics, the mention of crossovers will have fans excited. It’s become more and more common to see publishers collaborating with other franchises, bringing well-known characters from across popular culture to their games as a way of enticing new players.

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While many live service titles like Call of Duty and Overwatch have done this in the past, it was really Fortnite that paved the way. Virtually every season has at least one established character in its Battle Pass, such as Mortal Kombat‘s Sub-Zero in Chapter 6 Season 2, with even more releasing mid-season.

Marvel is already one of the biggest names around, but aligning Marvel Rivlas with other major franchises would only likely increase the player count. A series of skins inspired by Indiana Jones or a Star Wars-themed event could be enough to convince anyone on the fence to give the shooter a try, and that’s just a couple of examples using names that Disney already owns.

Fortnite has also proved that crossovers are a way of keeping existing players on board. As the initial hype dies down and players start to move on, a well-timed collaboration is as good an excuse as any to hop back in.

Only time will tell what these crossovers will look like in Marvel Rivals, as nothing has been officially confirmed just yet. But it’s clear that NetEase are learning from their competitors while trying to ensure long-term success.