Is Marvel Rivals free to play?

How heroic is the price tag?

Promotional artwork showing Tokyo 2099 in Marvel Rivals.
Tokyo Drift. Image via NetEase

In an age where AAA games are regularly released for free, Marvel Rivals’ success could already hinge on whether the devs make the shooter free-to-play.

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The free-to-play shooter market is about as intense and competitive as it can be right now. Mainstays like Counter-Strike and Team Fortress 2 are competing with the likes of Call of Duty, Fortnite, Overwatch, and Apex Legends, and then newcomers—like The FINALS—decide they want in. Now Marvel Rivals wants a turn, and this explosive-looking shooter might stand a chance.

Carrying the weight of the Marvel name alone is enough to skip to the front of the queue, but promising six-vs-six, high-octane Overwatch-style matches? Well, that’s enough for anyone to shout “I am Groot.” Here’s all the information you need about how much Marvel Rivals will cost.

Will Marvel Rivals be free?

marvel rivals characters
Free, you say? Image via NetEase

Marvel Rivals will be completely free to play, developer NetEase Games has confirmed.

We don’t know the full extent of the voice cast, we don’t even know the complete hero roster, and we’ve only seen a handful of the maps that are still to come. That said, we can safely expect Marvel Rivals to incorporate the now-traditional live service model featuring a battle pass, cosmetics, and microtransactions.

What we don’t know, however, is whether or not playable heroes will cost money or in-game currency. Overwatch dabbled with both free and pay-to-play heroes, while a game like Apex Legends allows you to buy them with real money or earn them via in-game currencies. Marvel Rivals fans are eager to see how the new heroes can be earned, but that information has not been made official just yet.

The public’s first taste of Marvel Rivals came courtesy of the exclusive closed alpha test that began on May 10, with the doors opening up to more players in the closed beta test. A full release date is yet to be announced.

This article will be updated with official information on pricing in Marvel Rivals when it becomes available.

Author
Image of Andrew Highton
Andrew Highton
Andy is a Game Guides Writer at Dot Esports with a host of experience working at Dexerto, Twinfinite, Keengamer, and more. He's about as passionate a gamer as you're likely to find and spreads that love across a ton of different titles, but will also talk everything football, golf, and wrestling! Be sure to follow his thoughts and ramblings over at @AndyHighton8 on Twitter.
Author
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Scott Duwe
Senior Staff Writer & Call of Duty lead. Professional writer for over 10 years. Lover of all things Marvel, Destiny 2, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and more. Previous bylines include PC Gamer, Red Bull Esports, Fanbyte, and Esports Nation. DogDad to corgis Yogi and Mickey, sports fan (NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Rangers, NY Knicks), Paramore fanatic, cardio enthusiast.
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Image of Josh Challies
Josh Challies
Staff Writer. Professional writer since 2014. Pokemon, Marvel, Star Wars and overall geek. Previously wrote for Yahoo Sport, Stats Perform and online news publications.