Marvel has never left the public eye due to the success and fame of their cinematic universe, which generated countless more spinoff titles and installments that spanned for almost two decades and spawned millions of fans. Originally based on comic books, the heroes of Marvel have made their way into other media like gaming, and NetEase is planning something risky.
Competitive gaming has taken the world by storm, and almost every major company has dipped their toes and developed their own take on the battle royale genre. Marvel Rivals is rumored to be an upcoming game by NetEase that is in the same vein as Overwatch and features a plethora of heroes from the history of Marvel.
Overwatch Serves as the Inspiration for NetEase’s Marvel Rivals
The multiplayer title served as the inspiration for NetEase’s latest title and their collaboration with Marvel Games. From TheStrmr, new details have emerged regarding the upcoming game and it seems like it is very much an Overwatch game with Marvel heroes. Fans are now hoping to see some of the fan favorites, like Iron Man, Spider-Man, and the Punisher, but will have to wait and see.
It wasn’t long ago when Skydance New Media and Amy Hennig’s upcoming Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra was unveiled during the State of Unreal, which amazed fans with its realistic graphics that were rendered in real-time. While the game will be primarily story-driven, like Hennig’s Uncharted games, NetEase is going for a different approach to cater to a different audience.
Marvel Games May be Going Competitive With Rivals
The superhero genre dominated cinema and now has taken interest in the video game industry, there are a few major hits like Marvel’s Spider-Man and the Batman Arkham series, and there are also a few disappointments like Marvel’s Avengers and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The two successful franchises from rival companies did well because of their simplified narrative structure, while the failures incorporated live-service elements.
These games are a proof of the concept that players are more inclined to invest countless hours in a strong story than in a product of corporate greed. Perhaps NetEase suggested a PvP game with iconic Marvel heroes but in the form of a shooter could be more feasible, given their success with Marvel: Super War, which has a MOBA structure.
The success of Overwatch could be a perfect combination with Marvel characters but given their unique style and depictions in other adaptations, NetEase is faced with a difficult task that will force them to be far more creative in developing the hope certain heroes will move and act if the game is limited to a shooter format.
From Marvel’s Wolverine to Marvel’s Iron Man, to Marvel’s Black Panther, and Marvel’s Blade, Marvel Games have gotten much bolder and their projects from various developers could indicate that there is a future for heroes in different varieties of gaming.
Are you excited for a third-person shooter game based on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes from NetEase? Let us know in the comments below!
