Marvel Rivals producer Weicong Wu has revealed that developer NetEase Games has no current plans to bring a PvE game mode to the competitive multiplayer shooter. Speaking to IGN, Wu did mention that the team is experimenting with different game modes. A PvE mode, on the other hand, isn’t part of the plan.
“For now we don’t have any kind of a PvE plan, but our development team is continuously experimenting with new game play modes,” said Wu. “So if we found that a new specific game mode is entertaining enough, fun enough, we would of course bring it to our audience.”
Wu also spoke about the demand in the Marvel Rivals player base for a potential PvE mode. However, he does say that it would have to be a completely distinct experience from the regular gameplay in Marvel Rivals.
“Yeah, we believe there are some of our audience that would like the PvE mode,” Wu said. “But also, you can see that if we come up with a hardcore PvE experience, that will be totally a different distinctive experience from what we have right now. So our development team has been continuously experimenting with different approaches to achieve that goal, maybe a lighter mode, in a lighter sense of that, and to see what would work best for our game.”
Wu was asked questions about a PvE mode owing to recent rumours of one such mode coming to Marvel Rivals. Earlier this month, an asset was discovered as part of the game’s files that seemed to be for a potential boss fight. The asset, clearly in its early stages, resembled a tentacled monster in the style of the classical kraken.
While it was far from completed as far as animations go, the modelling and rigging work on the asset seemed close to completion, complete with a maw and fully-textured teeth. It didn’t have any animations, however, and the video from last week showed it following a player around any animations, tentacles fully outstretched.
While a PvE mode might not be in the books for now, Marvel Rivals is still keeping up with a steady pace of content. The studio has revealed that the two remaining members of the Fantastic Four that aren’t yet in the game will be joining the roster on February 21. This will allow players to have Reid Richards and Sue Storm team up with The Thing and Johnny Storm.
A rank reset was planned for the update accompanying The Thing and the Human Torch, but NetEase Games has since backtracked on the decision owing to feedback from players. While players don’t have to worry about their ranks getting reset in the middle of the current season, players at rank Grandmaster or higher will still get rewarded with the Crests of Honor.
Players that want to get their hands on similar rewards can start ranking up after the second half of the season is kicked off. Along with the rank rewards and the new characters, the update on February 21 will also bring a host of balance changes to the game.
Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play game available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.