Marvel Rivals Celebrates First Anniversary with Deadpool and Massive Updates

Marvel Rivals Celebrates Year One with 40 Million Players and Deadpool’s Chaotic Debut

One year in, and Marvel Rivals is not just surviving the multiplayer arena, it is absolutely thriving. The 6 vs 6 team-based shooter from NetEase Games has officially marked its first anniversary, and instead of quietly blowing out a candle, it is detonating confetti cannons with its biggest update yet. Enter Season 6 and the one hero who never uses an indoor voice, Deadpool.

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In less than three months after launch, Marvel Rivals crossed a staggering 40 million active users. It also built the largest community fanbase of any video game on Discord, with more than 4.1 million players gathering to theory craft, celebrate clutch wins, and probably argue over team comps. The accolades piled up fast, including Discord’s Standout Server of 2025 and a Grand Award at the PlayStation Partner Awards 2025 in Japan and Asia. It has been nominated across major industry awards from The Game Awards to BAFTA, cementing its place as more than just another licensed title.

Now the roster stands at 45 playable heroes and counting, with new characters arriving monthly to keep the meta fresh and the strategies evolving. Season 6, titled Night at the Museum, launched January 16 and adds a mysterious new battleground along with the Merc with a Mouth himself. Deadpool fits the game’s high-energy chaos perfectly, slicing through enemies with katanas while tossing out fourth-wall-breaking quips like confetti. Expect unpredictable combat, flashy team-ups, and probably a chimichanga reference or two.

Marvel Rivals also planted its flag firmly in esports in 2025 with the Ignite Series, awarding more than $3 million in prizes. Now 2026 ushers in the Marvel Rivals Professional League, complete with a four-region structure, promotion and relegation, and official partner teams. With two major international LAN events on the schedule, the game is clearly aiming to be a heavyweight contender in the competitive scene.

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Best of all, Marvel Rivals remains completely free to play on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with cross-play in most modes. As it enters Year Two, the message is clear. This is not a side quest. Marvel Rivals is building a long game.

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