While the focus ofMarvel Rivalsmay be on the 6v6 matches, there is also a story that will guide the game’s seasonal content. At launch, players are being treated toMarvel Rivals' Season 0, which is setting the scene for what is to come. Through that, they have learned just how these characters got into this predicament, and the villain that seems to be the cause of it. And while it remains to be seen where that story goes from here, the villain NetEase Games has chosen could not come at a better time for the comic book brand.
Marvel Rivalshas been built around the idea thattwo variants of Doctor Doomhave clashed, causing the fusion of multiple timelines. Comic book fans will likely recognize this name immediately, as the character has proven to be a massive fan favorite among readers. However, that is not the only place fans will see him, as he is also set to make his MCU debut in the next couple of years. His introduction will likely have major ramifications for the MCU’s many characters, and now that players have seen what he can do, the hype may be out of this world.
Marvel Rivals' Story is Putting Doctor Doom At the Forefront
Doctor Doom is Set to Be the MCU’s Next Big Bad
For the first phase of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, the franchise was spending a lot of timesetting up Kang the Conqueroras the next Thanos. The studio went so far as to have him be the main antagonist inLoki,Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and he was set to be the face ofAvengers: The Kang Dynasty. However, due to controversies surrounding Kang actor Jonathan Majors and a seeming lack of interest from the fanbase, Marvel has since pivoted away from Kang and retitled the nextAvengersfilm asAvengers: Doomsday. While it remains to be seen ifLoki’ssecond season was truly the last fans see of Kang, the current focus seems to be on Doctor Doom instead.
Not only has the entire Multiverse Saga seeminglychanged direction to Doctor Doom, but Robert Downey Jr. is set to play the character. If done well, this could be massive for the MCU, so fans are very intrigued to see just what they do with him. But, as of now, there has been no project to set him up. That means that he really has no looming presence within the franchise like Thanos or Kang, which may hurt his introduction. And yet, Marvel’s video games seem to be alleviating that a bit.
The Video Game Industry is Making Marvel Fans Afraid of Doom
Marvel Rivalshas built its entire concept aroundtwo variants of Doctor Doom clashing. These two variants caused a Timestream Entanglement, which has fused multiple timelines together. Now, the heroes trapped inside must fight a never-ending battle while they desperately look for a way to escape. Not much else is known about this story yet, but as the seasons progress, players will likely learn a lot more about the power at Doctor Doom’s disposal.
Along withMarvel Rivals,Doctor Doom has also played a major role inFortniteand was teased at the end ofMarvel’s Midnight Suns. Even though his inclusion in all of these projects does not really help set up his MCU counterpart, it does mean that the character is at the forefront of peoples' minds. They will get to know his character, his powers, and his motives. So, when he does make his debut, they will at least be able to understand him better.
It remains to be seen just how and when the MCU plans to introduce Doctor Doom, but while fans wait for that, they will have games likeMarvel Rivalsto turn to. And if Marvel continues down its current path, then there may be even more games on the horizon that make him the primary antagonist. As long as they continue to deliver quality experiences with him, the excitement for his live-action appearance may only grow.
