The community of Marvel Rivals has been buzzing with excitement and speculation following the discovery of potential future characters hidden within the game's code by dataminers. The excitement peaked when some of these names, including members of the Fantastic Four, were quickly confirmed as upcoming additions to the game. However, as more names surfaced, so did the suspicion that some could be red herrings, deliberately planted by developers NetEase and Marvel to mislead eager dataminers.

This speculation led to a direct inquiry with Marvel Rivals producer Weicong Wu and Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo. They addressed the rumors head-on, emphasizing that their focus is on developing the game rather than engaging in pranks. Wu explained the development process, noting that many concepts and prototypes are explored, which might leave traces in the code. "So there could be some information left in the code, and it might mean that we have tried those directions and they may appear or may not appear in our future plans," Wu stated, suggesting that datamined names should be taken with a grain of salt.

Koo reinforced this by likening the situation to someone finding an old notebook full of ideas without context. When pressed about the possibility of trolling, Koo firmly denied it, stating, "No. We would rather spend our time developing the actual game."

In the same discussion, the process of selecting new characters for Marvel Rivals was outlined. The team plans updates about a year in advance, aiming to add new characters every month and a half. The focus is on maintaining game balance by introducing new characters and experiences rather than constantly tweaking existing ones. Wu highlighted that NetEase considers what type of character and skillset is needed to enhance the game's roster and balance. These ideas are then presented to Marvel Games for initial design work, taking into account community feedback and upcoming Marvel projects across different media.

This approach explains the plethora of hero names found in the game's code, as NetEase continuously explores numerous ideas. The anticipation for new characters continues to grow, with Human Torch and The Thing set to join the game on February 21, promising to further enrich the Marvel Rivals experience. Additionally, discussions about a potential Nintendo Switch 2 release have sparked further interest among fans, showcasing the game's ongoing development and expansion.