The Thing and Human Torch Set for February Release in Marvel Rivals

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.

As for The Thing and Human Torch, fans are eagerly awaiting to see how these iconic heroes will bring their unique abilities to the roster. Following the introduction of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman at the start of Season 1, who brought innovative mechanics like stretchy attacks and invisibility to the game, Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm are expected to further evolve the multiplayer meta. Hopefully, NetEase will unveil some gameplay footage soon to keep the anticipation high.

The upcoming Season 1 update will also feature a rank reset for Ranked players. On February 21, expect your Rank to drop by four divisions. For instance, if you're a Diamond I player on February 20, you'll find yourself at Platinum II the next day. NetEase has outlined that future full-season updates will result in a six-division drop, while half-season updates will see a four-division drop. As the game evolves, NetEase promises to adjust these changes based on player feedback.

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 is introducing new Crests of Honor to celebrate top-tier players at Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All (the top 500).

The Marvel community has been eagerly awaiting more details on Marvel Rivals' post-launch plans, and The Fantastic Four is just the start. 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 strong evidence suggesting that 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 wait for the mid-season update to shake things up, you can check out our current Marvel Rivals Season 1 tier list to find out the best characters. Also, take a look at how the original Season 1 patch transformed the meta and why the community was so vocal about Marvel Rivals' alleged bot issue.