Marvel Rivals' early UI featured a darker, grittier art style

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In a video released by the Marvel Rivals visual team, fans were given a glimpse at early iterations of the game's UI - most notably featuring a harsher, more mature art style.

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Credit: NetEase Studios

As shown at 02:32 in Art Vision Vol. 01, early screengrabs reveal the interface in action. Character menus at this stage featured oil-pastel-style illustrations of Doctor Strange, Hulk, and Storm, offering a rougher, more stylized take on the game's heroes.

The imagery has drawn comparisons to the dystopian noir aesthetic of Disco Elysium, known for its expressive, often grim character portraits that reinforce the game's heavier themes. While Marvel Rivals targets a broader, more casual demographic, the early UI concepts suggest that NetEase Studios briefly explored a darker tone. Ultimately, the team shifted toward a warmer, more modern aesthetic - likely a better fit for the game's hero shooter format and live-service ambitions.

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Credit: NetEase Studios

As of April 2025, Marvel Rivals is midway through its second season, which launched alongside the introduction of vanguard hero Emma Frost. NetEase has maintained a fast release cadence, with plans to accelerate further as the team adopts shortened seasons and a "hero-per-month" rollout model. Avengers villain Ultron is currently slated for release during Season 2.5, with the mid-season update arriving May 30, 2025.

Beyond this, leaks have pointed to a multitude of characters that are set to possibly arrive - including Captain Marvel, Deadpool, Blade, Professor X and more. While these leaks should be taken with a grain of salt, the footage from Art Vision Vol. 01 notably includes a brief glimpse at X-Men's Colossus, who is also among the potential cast of characters to arrive in future updates.

• Read more: Marvel Rivals is getting a hero per month & shorter seasons: 'The adventure is just beginning'