While games like Arc Raiders and Battlefield 6 are currently popular online shooters, it doesn’t mean other recent hits have faded away. Marvel Rivals, in particular, remains a strong competitor to Overwatch 2, having gained significant popularity since its launch in late 2024. Now, the game is about to get even more exciting with the arrival of Deadpool, and his gameplay trailer looks incredibly powerful.
The ‘Merc with a Mouth’ has been officially confirmed after many rumors and data leaks. Marvel Rivals has been adding new characters at a faster rate than its competitors, typically introducing two new heroes or villains each season, along with new maps and game modes. Usually, each character in this type of game has one specific role: either a tank, a damage dealer, or a healer. However, Deadpool, true to his nature in comics and movies, writes his own rules. You can watch his reveal trailer below.
Previous video games featuring Wade Wilson have tried to show his ability to break the fourth wall through dialogue and comic book moments. In terms of gameplay, he has usually been portrayed as a noisy mercenary with lots of swords and guns. That is his basic identity, but the Marvel Rivals team has taken his abilities to a completely new level.
My first thought is that Wade might be very difficult to balance properly when he arrives on February 16th. He can switch effortlessly between the Vanguard (tank), Duelist (damage dealer), and Strategist (healer) roles. Each of these roles comes with many abilities that deal massive damage and provide strong buffs to his teammates.
When NetEase first hinted that he would be a flexible character, I didn’t expect him to actually pull out a comic book in the middle of a fight and choose who he wants to be inside the game. That is the most Deadpool thing imaginable.
Other exciting moments in the trailer include Deadpool taking selfies, his enemies getting beaten up by comic book drawings appearing on their screens, and a stylish MVP screen that also breaks the game’s traditional boundaries. It is safe to say this is the best version of the character we have seen in a video game so far, and the fact that it is part of a fast-paced online shooter makes it even more impressive.
The new season, called ‘Night at the Museum,’ also starts this Friday, January 16th. Besides Deadpool’s arrival, players are hoping for improvements to the matchmaking system and more quality-of-life fixes and adjustments.
Back in February, it was announced that Marvel Rivals had attracted over 40 million players since its launch. Despite this major success, NetEase laid off an unspecified number of the Marvel Rivals development team last year.
Following the layoffs, the publisher stated that the decision was difficult but necessary to “optimize development efficiency” for the game.
