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

The Fantastic Four team in Marvel Rivals is set to be completed with the addition of The Thing and Human Torch, who will become playable characters on February 21, 2025. This announcement coincides with the release of the Season 1.5 update for the popular hero shooter developed by Marvel and NetEase Games. While specifics about the content of this mid-season update remain under wraps, a Dev Talk blog post on the Marvel Rivals website has hinted at "major balance adjustments" that players can expect.

The Thing and Human Torch are poised to bring their unique flair to the game's roster, though details about their new moves and abilities have not yet been revealed. The first post-launch heroes, Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, were introduced during the launch of Season 1 last month. They brought innovative gameplay elements to the table, with Reed Richards utilizing his elastic powers for both combat and mobility, and Sue Storm adding invisibility mechanics to the mix. Fans are eager to see how Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm will influence the game's meta in the coming weeks, with hopes that NetEase will soon share some gameplay footage.

Alongside the introduction of the new heroes, the upcoming Season 1 update will feature a rank reset for Ranked players. On February 21, players will see their ranks drop by four divisions. For example, a Diamond I player on February 20 will be downgraded to Platinum II the next day. NetEase has outlined that future updates will follow this pattern, with new seasons causing a six-division drop and half-season updates resulting in a four-division drop. The company also mentioned that they will continue to adjust the Ranked system based on player feedback.

For those competing in the Gold rank, the launch of the second half of Season 1 brings exciting new costume rewards. Additionally, NetEase will introduce new Crests of Honor to recognize players at the Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All ranks, celebrating the top 500 players.

Marvel Rivals fans have been eagerly awaiting further details on the game's post-launch roadmap, and the addition of The Fantastic Four is just the beginning. Creative director Guangyun Chen has promised to release a new playable character every half-season, ensuring a steady stream of new content every six weeks. There's growing evidence to suggest the vampire-hunting Daywalker Blade could be the next hero to join the fray, though rumors and leaks have kept the community buzzing with speculation about what's to come.

While waiting for the mid-season update, players can check out our current Marvel Rivals Season 1 tier list to see which characters are currently dominating the meta. The initial Season 1 patch significantly altered the game's dynamics, sparking discussions within the community, including debates over the game's alleged bot issue.