Latest news with #MarvelRivals'
Wall Street Journal
15-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Chinese Videogame Giant NetEase Posts Better-Than-Expected Results
Videogame giant NetEase NTES 0.67%increase; green up pointing triangle delivered solid first-quarter results as its core online business continued to recover, in another sign that China's gaming industry has bounced back. The Chinese company behind the hit games 'Eggy Party' and 'Marvel Rivals' said Thursday that its net profit rose 35% to 10.30 billion yuan, equivalent to $1.43 billion, in the first three months of the year. That beat the 8.28 billion yuan expected in a FactSet poll of analysts and marked a second consecutive quarter of profit gains as NetEase's gaming segment goes from strength to strength. Adjusted net profit, a closely watched metric that excludes share-based compensation expenses, increased 32% from a year earlier to 11.24 billion yuan. Revenue at the Hangzhou-based company, the sole distributor of Blizzard blockbusters like 'World of Warcraft' in China, climbed 7.4% to 28.83 billion yuan, topping the 28.11 billion yuan estimate in the FactSet poll. Sales from games and value-added services increased 12% as PC games supported overall gaming revenue, fueled by the resumed distribution of popular Blizzard titles and the success of self-developed ones such as 'Marvel Rivals' and 'Where Winds Meet.' Write to Sherry Qin at
CNET
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Marvel Rivals' Galacta's Gift Event Makes Ranking Up Even Easier
There has been no shortage of criticism for Marvel Rivals' ranked competitive system since the game's launch in December. Players earn far more rank points from a win than they lose from a loss, leading players with sub-50% win rates to climb the ladder to Diamond or Grandmaster -- and in some people's eyes, the rank distribution has lost much of its meaning and prestige. Now, Marvel Rivals' latest event risks further muddling the skill divisions of the competitive mode when it launches on May 15. The Galacta's Gift event pass will include eight consumable Chrono Shield Cards, which will prevent players from losing rank points after a competitive match loss. Read More: Marvel Rivals Season 2: The 6 Best Heroes to Start Learning Now The decision to add further safeguards to the Marvel Rivals' ranked experience is puzzling. But it might be another way to retain high player engagement, especially as support players have gone on strike during Season 2. Steam player counts are a flawed metric to measure a game's success, as player count naturally picks up and drops depending on what is going on in-game, and these charts account only for a subset of PC players among the broad console-inclusive playerbase. Even so, Marvel Rivals reportedly had more players at the end of Season 1 than at the beginning of Season 2. This event could be a quick way to scrape back some of those lapsed players, even if it harms the game's competitive integrity. Whether the Chrono Shield Cards will be detrimental to the game's competitive environment, they're here to stay. Here's how to get them -- among the other rewards included in the new Galacta's Gift event. Chrono Shield Cards are the new consumable items that protect your ranked points. NetEase Games/Screenshot by CNET Chrono Shield Cards will protect your rank points Completing event challenges during the Galacta's Gift event will level up a free event pass, containing seven tiers with different rewards. At tiers two and four, players will earn separate bundles of four Chrono Shield Cards. That means you're able to earn eight total Chrono Shield Cards during the item's debut. Once you activate a Chrono Shield Card, it will remain active until you lose a competitive match. Upon that loss, your Chrono Shield Card will be consumed -- but you won't lose any rank points for that defeat. You can have up to 20 Chrono Shield Cards at a time, and they are cleared from your inventory at the end of the season. This seems to suggest that the consumables will be plentiful enough for you to stack up on, though we don't yet know how players will be able to earn more outside of this event. Regardless, it's healthy to be skeptical about the new addition to the game -- especially if these items are moved into paid bundles sometime in the future. Chrono Shield Cards will not remove the existing Chrono Shield system for Bronze, Silver and Gold players, which charges as they lose ranked games. After enough losses, lower-ranked players gain a Chrono Shield -- protecting them from a rank demotion for a single game. Since this system protects ranked points in the lowest ranks, I'd recommend saving your Chrono Shield Cards until you reach at least Platinum rank on the competitive ladder. The costume coins are used to unlock premium skins for launch characters -- including Jeff's Incognito Dolphin skin. NetEase Games How to get a free costume during the Galacta's Gift event The Chrono Shield Cards are likely going to be the most controversial event rewards in Marvel Rivals to date, but the juiciest prize in the new event is the costume coin on the final tier. This special currency has only been obtainable during one other event -- the paid Hyper Orange Venom Pick Up Bundle. If you have a costume coin, you're able to trade it in for a premium skin from the costume shop. Many of these skins cost 1,600 units, the standard premium currency in Marvel Rivals, which is roughly equivalent to $16. Spending $3 to earn the costume coin in the Pick Up Bundle was a very good deal. Being able to earn a costume coin for free during the new event is even better. There are a number of caveats to the costume coin exchange, however. Only costumes for Season 0 heroes are available -- that means you can get a costume for a hero that was available at launch. That means costumes for the members of the Fantastic Four and Emma Frost will not be available in the costume coin exchange. Once you have your costume coin, you can trade it in by navigating to the Exchange tab located under the Store menu. I highly recommend you nab the Incognito Dolphin skin for Jeff the Shark, so you can look cute and cuddly while you harass the enemy backline. Want to get your hands on more free costumes? We have a guide for every current (and previous) free skin in Marvel Rivals.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Marvel Rivals player count drops by over 50% amid Season 2 backlash
Marvel Rivals is seeing an all-time low player count , with more than half of its player base abandoning the game since January 2025. While this has raised concerns about the game's future, many are convinced that it's only a temporary drop before NetEase Games takes action and addresses popular community complaints and demands. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Marvel Rivals attracted over 10 million players within 72 hours of its launch on December 6, 2024. Ever since that day, the player count has only increased over time, with concurrent players reaching a record-breaking number of 644,269 on January 11, 2025. However, in a surprising turn of events, this player count has significantly dropped for the first time in the game's lifespan. Marvel Rivals player count drops to an all-time low Marvel Rivals player count on May 5, 2025 (Image via NetEase Games) As of May 2025, Marvel Rivals' peak player count has dropped by 362,000 players since January 2025 . It is a significant drop of 56.2% as inferred from the latest SteamDB data. Currently, the 24-hour peak count sits at 159,426 players as of May 5, 2024. The loss in player count could be attributed to several factors in Marvel Rivals Season 2 . While the numbers can seem a bit shocking given the immensely successful status of the game, the actual daily players aren't surprised. They have been facing several issues in the latest season that contribute directly to this drop in player count in Marvel Rivals. Why are players leaving Marvel Rivals? Marvel Rivals Season 2 has introduced quite a few questionable changes that the community isn't quite happy about. From issues like smurfing to alienating balance changes, the latest update seems to have done the opposite of what NetEase Games intended. Let's take a look at the reasons why people are quitting Marvel Rivals in Season 2. Smurfing in Marvel Rivals has been a major concern this season. High-skilled players are constantly making new accounts and rolling over low-tier lobbies, making the game unpleasant and borderline unplayable at times. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Questionable balance changes in Marvel Rivals Season 2 significantly nerfs popular heroes like Doctor Strange and Spider-Man, making them ineffective in competitive matches. This disappoints a significant portion of the player base who mains these characters. Furthermore, the changes impact the entire Strategists class, with their ineffectiveness being evident in the arena. This has caused many strategist mains to go on a community strike, which directly results in the lower player count. Inconsistent point earning across classes Marvel Rivals Season 2 favours individual performance over team play when it comes to earning points at the end of the match. Duelists who naturally secure more kills tend to earn more points compared to Vanguards and Strategists. This disparity has raised frustration in the community. Will Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 revive the game? NetEase Games has shown time and time again that player satisfaction and the game's enjoyability are their top priority. Seeing the current trend and the community being vocal about these issues, it's only a matter of time before NetEase Games addresses these issues. Furthermore, Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 is right around the corner, and with Ultron being anticipated as the new strategist hero, it can almost be said for certain that the players who left will come back to try him out. The future of Marvel Rivals, thus, seems secure as NetEase Games strives to keep the game running for 10+ years. Also read:
Business Mayor
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
Marvel Rivals Season 2 rank reset and competitive mode explained
Marvel Rivals' highly anticipated Season 2, named Hellfire Gala, has begun, enthralling players with a stunning assortment of new content. The season introduces Emma Frost, the diamond-clad X-Men vanguard, as well as a new Domination map set in the opulent Krakoa. NetEase Games has released a vivid Battle Pass with 10 new outfits, including free skins like Scarlet Witch's Chaos Gown, which can be unlocked through gameplay. The Cerebro Database event and improved Team-Up abilities add to the experience by shaking up strategy and meta dynamics. Season 2 promises to keep the hero shooter's momentum going, especially with Ultron on the way. Despite the excitement, competitive players have also seen some big changes that have spurred fierce debate within the community. Following the roster additions of The Thing and Human Torch in Season 1.5, NetEase is focusing on improving the ranked experience even further. The developer's ambition to balance ranked lobbies has resulted in radical changes that address comments from Season 1's skipped mid-season reset. As the competitive scene advances, the stakes become increasingly high, paving the way for a modified ladder. Here are all the changes made in Marvel Rivals' competitive mode in Season 2. Everything new and changes in Marvel Rivals competitive mode in Season 2 Marvel Rivals' Season 2 introduced sweeping changes to its competitive mode, aiming to refine matchmaking, enhance strategic depth, and reward player dedication. Rank Reset Season 2 brought a massive rank reset, lowering all players by nine divisions based on their Season 1.5 rankings. For example, a Diamond I player now starts at Silver I, while those below Gold II are demoted to Bronze III. This reset, the first big one since Season 1's mid-season reset was canceled due to backlash, seeks to redistribute players for more equitable matchmaking. NetEase believes this fosters skill-based growth, but some lower-ranked players are dreading the trek back to higher ranks. The reset coincides with new content, such as Emma Frost's addition, to renew the competitive meta. Read More Wordle Today (#629): Wordle answer and hints for March 10 NetEase Games New Rank Restrictions added To ensure balanced matchups, Season 2 tightened rank limitations. The minimum level required to enable competitive mode has been increased from 10 to 15, guaranteeing that players have adequate game understanding. Hero pick-and-ban phases, which were previously limited to Diamond III and higher, now begin at Gold III, allowing more players to engage in strategic bans. At the top, the Eternity and One Above All rankings are restricted to solo or duo queues, limiting predefined team advantages. Players from Gold I to Celestial I can only queue with others in three categories, whereas Eternity players can join up with Celestial II players within 200 points. These limits are intended to improve fairness, but they have frustrated some high-ranking players wanting flexibility. Competitive map rotation added Season 2 added a competitive map rotation, limiting the pool to four maps for ranked play and esports tournaments. The new Hellfire Gala: Krakoa map, commemorating Emma Frost's debut, has joined the rotation, while Yggsgard: Royal Palace and Tokyo 2099: Shin-Shibuya have been removed. This update is intended to streamline strategy, but it has been criticized for diminishing variation, with some players claiming it makes ranked feel repetitive. Quick Play and Custom Games preserve all maps, giving you access to the whole roster. The rotation may change again in Season 2.5, possibly returning retired maps. New Ranked skin and rewards The ranked rewards in Season 2 encourage players to work their way up the ladder. Gold III and above players gain access to the Golden Diamond Emma Frost costume, while Grandmaster III grants the Grandmaster Crest of Honor. Celestial III players receive the Celestial Crest and Eternity or One Above. Every player is given a combined Crest. The special Top 500 Crest of Honor is awarded at the end of the season to the top 500 players. Rewards are based on the highest rank earned, with a minimum of 10 competitive matches required to claim. These cosmetics, which cannot be purchased in the shop, provide prestige, although some players are concerned about their exclusivity vs accessibility.
Al Bawaba
05-04-2025
- General
- Al Bawaba
Viral Video: Drone captures shark's stealthy pursuit of divers
ALBAWABA - A stunning video captured by a drone off the coast of Stuart, Florida, revealed a heart-pounding moment as a large shark swam within feet of two unsuspecting snorkelers. The footage, taken by photographer Michael Busch, shows a man and woman exploring coral reefs completely unaware of the predator trailing just behind them. Also Read Jeff the Land Shark: Marvel Rivals' most loved and hated hero As the shark gradually closed the distance, it eventually passed directly behind the male diver. Despite the proximity of the danger, the couple remained oblivious, even pausing to chat underwater as the shark calmly swam alongside them. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Busch described feeling powerless during the recording. He expressed his wish that the drone had a speaker system to warn the divers, especially when the shark came within just five feet of them. The video was later shared on Busch's Instagram account, quickly gaining viral attention. Viewers reacted with a mix of alarm and admiration — some shocked by the close encounter, others praising the serene and cinematic quality of the moment. The incident has reignited conversations around ocean safety and the importance of awareness while diving or snorkeling in shark-inhabited waters. Fortunately, no one was harmed in the encounter.
