"Ultron Joins Marvel Rivals: Season 2.5 Unveils New Features"

Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 ushers in a bold new era with the arrival of Ultron as a playable hero and a wave of exciting updates. Discover what’s in store for players when the season launches on May 30.

Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 Updates

The Rise of Ultron

Get ready to welcome one of Marvel’s most iconic villains into the battlefield—Ultron is joining Marvel Rivals as a fully playable Strategist in Season 2.5. Announced by NetEase Games in a Twitter (X) post on May 23, Ultron will officially go live following the Season 2.5 maintenance on May 30.

As revealed in Dev Vision Vol. 06, Ultron brings a unique blend of support and aerial dominance to the roster. He’s the only Strategist capable of flight, enabling new tactical possibilities in team compositions and map control. His primary weapon delivers a rapid sequence of three low-damage energy bursts, culminating in a high-impact final shot—offering consistent pressure at near-infinite range.

Ultron’s true strength lies in his support capabilities. By attaching a drone to an ally, he enables continuous healing and can even overheal both the attached hero and nearby teammates. His Ultimate ability amplifies this role by dealing damage to enemies while simultaneously healing allies within the targeted area, making him a pivotal force in sustained combat scenarios.

Alongside his debut, players can look forward to Ultron’s exclusive X-Tron skin, inspired by his takeover of Cerebro and ascension to greater power. Additionally, Groot receives a mythic makeover with the Yggroot skin, themed around Norse mythology. Both skins will be available post-update, though pricing and potential bundle inclusions remain unconfirmed.

Season 2.5 Launch: May 30

Season 2.5 goes live on May 30 after a scheduled maintenance window expected to last 2–3 hours, beginning at 2 AM PDT / 9 AM UTC. Players from all regions can now prepare for the update, which brings more than just a new hero.

Key balance changes include:

• Captain America: Reduced base health to adjust survivability.
• Doctor Strange: Slight increase in spell damage for improved effectiveness.
• Emma Frost: Expanded ability range to enhance zoning potential.

These adjustments aim to counter the current "dive meta," where aggressive heroes like Iron Fist and Psylocke rush support roles. The rebalancing promotes greater strategic diversity and team composition flexibility.

A new map, Arrako, makes its debut in Season 2.5. Once the sister-island of Krakoa, Arrako has fallen under Ultron’s control following his escape from the Hellfire Gala. Now, heroes must unite with the living island Krakoa to reclaim Arrako in a fresh narrative-driven setting that blends lore with dynamic combat zones.

Players can also participate in Cerebro Database II, a returning event starting May 30 at 9:00 AM UTC and running through June 27. Complete missions to earn rewards, including the free Hawkeye – Binary Arrow costume. Just like the original event, this season’s version offers a progression-based reward track filled with cosmetic and in-game incentives.

Team-Up Overhaul, New Experimental Mode, and Future Plans

Marvel Rivals is shaking up its team-up system with 6 new synergies, 4 removed combinations, and various balance tweaks. Notable additions include:

• Rocket Network – Rocket Raccoon & Peni Parker
• Stark Protocol – Iron Man & Ultron
• Jeff-Nado – Jeff & Storm, returning by popular demand

Creative Director Guangguang confirmed that over 50% of Team-Up abilities have been revised since Season 0, with ongoing community feedback shaping future updates.

A major highlight is the launch of "Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol" on June 6—a limited-time experimental mode. In this solo tactical experience, six players craft custom hero builds, enhance traits, and battle in a strategic, numbers-driven format. Described by Guangguang as a "streamlined, strategic, numerical-based solo tactical play," the mode draws inspiration from auto-chess titles like Teamfight Tactics and Hearthstone Battlegrounds.

Looking ahead, NetEase reaffirmed its plan to shorten season lengths from three to two months starting with Season 3. This shift allows for faster content cycles and monthly hero releases—doubling the pace from the original roadmap.

With Ultron’s debut, map expansions, balance refinements, and innovative gameplay modes, Marvel Rivals continues to evolve into a deeper, more dynamic hero shooter. The game is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Stay tuned for more updates—your next mission awaits in the heart of the Marvel universe.