A recent gallery card in Marvel Rivals hints that Nightcrawler might be joining the roster, as reported by TheGamer. Although NetEase Games hasn’t officially announced the character yet, the artwork itself suggests his inclusion.
This card is the newest entry in the in-game gallery, which showcases character art and cosmetics. According to TheGamer, it features a Nightcrawler tease. Their headline also mentions a stray bat symbol in the artwork, which stands out and has caught people’s attention. The excerpt doesn’t clarify the symbol’s meaning, so any theories should be treated as mere speculation.
Another report adds more fuel to the fire. GameRant discusses a leak hinting at a highly anticipated Duelist. The summary doesn’t specify which hero it is, and the two reports haven’t been connected. However, having two independent stories about a new Duelist in the same news cycle suggests that NetEase’s content pipeline is active.
Timing is crucial for Nightcrawler’s potential addition. Marvel Rivals launched on December 6, 2024, and introducing new heroes is a key strategy for NetEase to keep their live-service shooter engaging. The game currently boasts 39,068 concurrent players on Steam. Adding a fan-favorite X-Men character could lure back players who have drifted away.
However, earning back player goodwill is tougher. Marvel Rivals holds a 76% positive rating from 304,224 Steam reviews, translating to about 231,000 positive and 73,000 negative reviews. While that’s a decent score for Steam, our community sentiment analysis shows it’s mostly negative right now. A new hero alone won’t change that perception.
| Release date | December 6, 2024 |
| Developer | NetEase Games |
| Steam reviews | 76% positive |
| Total Steam reviews | 304,224 |
| Current Steam players | 39,068 |
Community Pulse
Teasing the roster in a community that’s divided about the game is a delicate balance. One negative reviewer on Steam, who has played since Season 0 and created a second account, started their review with: “I absolutely love this game. And that’s exactly why it hurts so much to write this review.” That statement perfectly reflects the ongoing tension. Dedicated players crave more content but also want NetEase to address the issues leading to negative reviews.
What To Watch
- Official confirmation: Keep an eye out for a NetEase announcement, trailer, or season roadmap that names Nightcrawler and provides a release window.
- The bat symbol: Monitor for any further gallery updates or datamines that might clarify the unusual detail in the artwork.
- Player response: Observe whether the concurrent player count on Steam and recent review sentiment change once a new hero is confirmed or released.
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is the Reviews and Guides Editor at Explosion.com. With a background in game design studies and 6 years of gaming journalism, Sarah brings technical insight to her reviews and creates comprehensive guides that help players get the most out of their games. She has reviewed over 200 titles across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms. Her current obsessions include FromSoftware titles and indie roguelikes.
