Marvel Rivals Sets February Release Date for The Thing and Human Torch

Get ready, Marvel fans! Marvel Rivals is set to complete The Fantastic Four lineup with the addition of The Thing and Human Torch as playable characters on February 21, 2025. This exciting news was announced today, coinciding with the launch of the second half of Season 1. While the specifics of the Season 1.5 update remain under wraps, a Dev Talk blog post on the Marvel Rivals website hinted at "major balance adjustments" that are sure to shake up the game's dynamics.

The Thing and Human Torch are poised to bring their unique flair to the roster, though their exact moves and abilities are yet to be revealed. Following the introduction of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman at the start of Season 1 last month, these new additions promise to further evolve the game's meta. Reed Richards dazzled players with his elastic and goofy attacks, while Sue Storm introduced innovative invisibility mechanics. Fans are eager to see how Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm will impact the battlefield, and hopefully, NetEase will share some gameplay footage soon.

The upcoming Season 1 update will also feature a rank reset for Ranked players. On February 21, expect your Rank to drop four divisions; for instance, a Diamond I player will find themselves in Platinum II the next day. NetEase has outlined future plans, stating that new seasons will result in a six-division drop, while half-season updates will see a four-division drop. As Marvel Rivals continues to refine its Ranked system, NetEase assures players that they will "tune this as necessary."

It's not all about the challenges, though. Competitive players in the Gold rank can look forward to new costume rewards with the launch of the second half of Season 1. Additionally, NetEase will introduce new Crests of Honor to celebrate players at the Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All ranks (the top 500).

The anticipation for Marvel Rivals' post-launch plans has been palpable, and The Fantastic Four is just the beginning. Last month, creative director Guangyun Chen stirred excitement by promising to release a new playable character every half-season. This means a new Marvel hero will join the fray approximately every six weeks, keeping the game fresh and engaging. There's evidence to suggest the vampire-hunting Daywalker Blade might be next, though amidst rumors and leaks that have sparked debates among players, the future of Marvel Rivals remains shrouded in mystery.

While you await the mid-season update, you can check out our current Marvel Rivals Season 1 tier list to find out the best characters. Also, delve into how the original Season 1 patch transformed the meta and why the community was so vocal about Marvel Rivals' alleged bot issue.