Marvel Rivals Dev Says They're Not Trolling Dataminers - 'We'd Rather Spend Our Time Developing the Game'

Marvel Rivals developers address dataminer speculation about future characters. Dataminers have uncovered a list of potential characters within the game's code, sparking debate about their authenticity. Some believe the developers are intentionally including fake names to mislead the community.

NetEase and Marvel Games executives Weicong Wu and Danny Koo addressed these concerns directly. While acknowledging the presence of various character concepts and prototypes in the code, they denied any deliberate attempt to mislead dataminers. Wu explained that the development process involves numerous concepts, trials, and prototypes, leaving remnants in the code that don't necessarily reflect future plans. Koo likened the situation to finding a discarded notebook filled with brainstorming notes. He emphasized 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 character release every six weeks. NetEase first assesses the game's balance and roster variety, generating a list of potential additions. This list is then presented to Marvel Games, considering community interest and alignment with upcoming Marvel films or comic storylines. This process explains the extensive list of names found in the game's code – a reflection of NetEase's ongoing brainstorming and exploration of possibilities.

The game's success is highlighted by the upcoming addition of the Human Torch and The Thing on February 21st. Further discussion with Wu and Koo also covered the potential for a Nintendo Switch 2 release (details available in a separate article). In short, while the datamined list is intriguing, it's crucial to approach it with caution, recognizing the dynamic nature of game development and the multitude of ideas considered during the creative process.