The Thing and Human Torch Set for February Release in Marvel Rivals

Get ready, Marvel fans! Marvel Rivals is set to complete The Fantastic Four lineup with the exciting addition of The Thing and Human Torch as playable characters on February 21, 2025. This announcement came alongside the reveal of an update for the second half of Season 1, though details about the Season 1.5 update remain under wraps. However, a Dev Talk blog post on the Marvel Rivals website has teased "major balance adjustments," hinting at some thrilling changes ahead.

While we eagerly await to see how The Thing and Human Torch will dazzle the roster with their unique abilities, we can reflect on the impact of the first post-launch heroes introduced last month: Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. Reed Richards brought his elastic powers to the game, offering stretchy (and goofy) combat moves, while Sue Storm introduced invisibility mechanics that shifted the meta. With Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm set to join the fray in a few weeks, it's hoped that NetEase will unveil some gameplay footage soon to keep the excitement building.

The upcoming Marvel Rivals Season 1 update will also introduce a rank reset for competitive players. On February 21, expect your rank to drop four divisions; for instance, a Diamond I player will find themselves at Platinum II the following day. NetEase has outlined future plans for these resets, stating that new seasons will feature a six-division drop, while half-season updates will involve a four-division drop. As the game evolves, NetEase plans to fine-tune these adjustments based on player feedback.

On a brighter note, players in the Gold rank can look forward to new costume rewards with the launch of the second half of Season 1. Additionally, NetEase will introduce new Crests of Honor to celebrate achievements at the Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All ranks (reserved for the top 500 players).

The Marvel Rivals community has been eagerly anticipating more news on post-launch plans, and the expansion of The Fantastic Four is just the start. Last month, creative director Guangyun Chen stirred excitement by promising to release a new playable character every half-season. This means fans can expect a fresh Marvel hero every six weeks, keeping the game dynamic and engaging. There's strong evidence to suggest the vampire-hunting Daywalker Blade might be next, although rumors and leaks have kept the community buzzing with speculation about the game's future.

While you wait for the mid-season update to shake up the current meta, you can check out our current Marvel Rivals Season 1 tier list to find out the best characters. Additionally, revisit how the original Season 1 patch transformed the gameplay and why the community got so animated over the alleged bot issue in Marvel Rivals.