Marvel Rivals
News, coverage and analysis tracking Marvel Rivals across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Marvel Rivals is gearing up for season 9.5 with major Vanguard adjustments alongside a teaser for its next hero, The…
Marvel Rivals is launching its season 9.5 update today, which includes significant balance adjustments for Vanguard characters and introduces the new hero, The Hood, on August 7. The update buffs characters like Devil Dinosaur, Doctor Strange, Magneto, and Rogue, while nerfing Venom and Peni Parker. The Hood's design draws comparisons to the Gun Devil from Chainsaw Man, and his abilities share similarities with other Marvel Rivals heroes and Overwatch characters.
Marvel Rivals Season 9.5 update will shrink the game by up to 40GB thanks to a texture revamp from NetEase
NetEase is releasing a Season 9.5 update for Marvel Rivals on August 7 that will significantly reduce the game's file size. The update will shrink the game by up to 40GB on PC and 15GB on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S through texture compression and asset repackaging. While the initial update download will be larger, the final installed size will be considerably smaller.
Marvel Rivals Is About To Give Your SSD Some Much-Needed Breathing Room
Marvel Rivals is implementing a significant update to reduce its install size on PC and consoles. Developer NetEase announced that a texture compression overhaul will shrink the game by 40GB on PC and up to 15GB on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, without compromising graphical quality. This comes at a time of rising hardware costs and increasing game sizes.
Marvel Rivals Buff & Debuff Meta Changes (August 5)
Marvel Rivals is implementing significant buffs and nerfs for Season 9.5, impacting various heroes across duelist, strategist, and vanguard roles. These changes aim to shake up the current meta, with specific adjustments detailed for characters like Gambit, Black Panther, Phoenix, and Peni Parker. The upcoming season will also introduce a new vanguard hero, The Hood, whose impact on the meta remains to be seen following these balance updates.
Marvel Rivals’ next update drastically reduces the game’s install size on PC and console
Marvel Rivals is implementing a significant update on August 7th that drastically reduces its install size across PC and consoles. The update will shrink the game by approximately 15GB on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and over 40GB on PC, without compromising visual fidelity. Players will need to re-download the entire package for the update, which will result in a much lighter final install size.
The Hood joins Marvel Rivals as Season 9.5 cuts 40GB from PC install size
Marvel Rivals Season 9.5, launching August 7, introduces the new playable hero The Hood and significantly reduces the game's PC install size by approximately 40GB. The update also includes new cosmetics and customizable animations for Lady Loki. The Hood, voiced by WWE superstar Damian Priest, can switch between human and demonic forms, offering unique offensive and defensive capabilities.
Evening Reading - August 4, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers various gaming news, including earnings reports from companies like Snapchat, SpaceX, and AMD. It also touches on updates for games such as Dead by Daylight, Marvel Rivals, and Destiny, alongside mentions of indie titles like Ugoku Sushi Bar and the Fire Emblem franchise. The article also highlights industry figures and business developments.
Marvel Rivals Adds The Hood on August 7th in Season 9.5
Marvel Rivals is adding the villain The Hood to its roster in Season 9.5 on August 7th. The Hood, also known as Parker Robbins, gains his powers from a demon and utilizes magic-infused pistols and a powerful ultimate ability. This update will also include new maps and character adjustments.
Roadmaps and Plans
This article provides updates on several games, including Marvel Rivals' Season 9.5, Expeditions: Samurai's Early Access development, and Riftbound's plans extending into 2027. It highlights ongoing development visions and future roadmaps for these titles.
Marvel Rivals’ New Hero Looks Like He Walked Straight Out Of Chainsaw Man
Marvel Rivals is introducing a new character named The Hood for Season 9.5: The Mystery of Thebes, voiced by WWE star Damian Priest. The Hood's demon form draws comparisons to the Gun Devil from the popular manga and anime series Chainsaw Man. The game is also launching its Summer Festival event on August 13 and has implemented significant texture compression to reduce its storage size on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Marvel Rivals Season 9.5 will decrease the game's file size on PC and consoles
NetEase Games is releasing Season 9.5 for Marvel Rivals, which will introduce The Hood and significantly reduce the game's file size on PC and consoles. PC players will see a decrease of approximately 40GB, while PlayStation and Xbox users will experience a 15GB reduction. Despite the smaller install size, no visual fidelity compromises have been made.
There's no single-player video games in the top 20 most played PS5 games in July
Live service and sports games continue to dominate the most played lists on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with single-player titles absent from the top 20 in July. Fortnite remains the most popular game, with titles like Roblox, Minecraft, and annual sports sequels filling out the charts. Data from Circana analyst Mat Piscatella indicates a strong preference for ongoing multiplayer experiences over traditional offline games.
Evening Reading - August 3, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including reviews for Beast of Reincarnation and Marvel Rivals, updates on Gears of War: E-Day and Street Fighter 6, and announcements for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Palworld Online. The article also touches on business news regarding GameStop stock and discusses physical video game media.
Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto 5 Continue to Top PS5, Xbox Series X/S Most-Played Charts in the US
Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto 5 continue to dominate the most-played game charts on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in the US, according to data from Circana's Mat Piscatella. The lists are largely comprised of long-running live-service titles and annual sports games, with only a few new releases like Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls and Shift at Midnight making brief appearances in the top 20.
Marvel Rivals executive producer talks Path to Doomsday, Jubilee, and The Hood
Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo discussed upcoming content for Marvel Rivals, including the Path to Doomsday event series, the character Jubilee, and the debut of The Hood. Koo also touched on the game's esports scene and player reception to Jubilee's unique lore and abilities.
Marvel Tokon Beta 5 Most Used Characters Revealed
The open beta for the upcoming Marvel fighting game, Marvel Tokon, has concluded, with the full release scheduled for August 6, 2026, on PC and PlayStation 5. While player reviews were mixed, the developers revealed the most popular characters from the beta, with Magik being the top pick, followed by Spider-Man, Blade, Doctor Doom, and Wolverine. Another character, Phoenix Cyclops, is expected to be added later in 2026.
Morning Patches
Several games have received updates, including THE FINALS version 11.3.0, a July 29 update for Halo: Campaign Evolved, and a new patch for Marvel Rivals. NARAKA: BLADEPOINT also launched a new hero, Ye Xiu, and a transforming weapon.
Marvel Rivals: Age of Ultron Maps, Heros & Abilities
Marvel Rivals is introducing the 'Age of Ultron' event on July 30, 2024, featuring a new PvE game mode with maps like Avengers Tower and Midtown Convoy. The event will include heroes such as Captain America, Black Widow, Iron Man, Hulk, and Scarlet Witch, with upgraded abilities to face Ultron and his drones. This update will be available on PC and new-generation consoles, excluding older platforms like PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Marvel Rivals is Getting a New Avengers: Age of Ultron PvE Mode on July 30th
Marvel Rivals is introducing a new Avengers: Age of Ultron themed PvE mode on July 30th. This mode will feature iconic characters like Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and Wanda Maximoff battling Ultron's minions and Ultron himself. The update aims to add thrilling moments and fulfill superhero fantasies for players.
The Corsair HS35 V3 gaming headset is so lightweight that it may have just solved my summer migraine woes
The Corsair HS35 V3 Wireless gaming headset is praised for its lightweight design, weighing only 250g, which significantly improves comfort, especially in hot weather. Despite lacking active noise cancellation, its suspended headband and plush ear cushions provide a pleasant wearing experience, making it a strong contender against other gaming headsets like the Logitech G325 Lightspeed and Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II.
