Marvel Rivals’ Blade addition appears imminent

Marvel’s vampire hunter Blade looks like a lock for Marvel Rivals, based on multiple in-game teasers including a look at the character’s model. Blade’s addition to NetEase Games’ team-based hero shooter would certainly be in line with the Marvel Rivals’ current vampire-themed storyline — and the studio is not being subtle about it at all.

Blade has been teased in various pieces of artwork in Rivals, starting with a gallery card that shows Dracula subduing the vampire hunter over the body of Ratatoskr. Blade is also prominently shown on the cover of the Daily Bugle newspaper that appears in Marvel Rivals’ current Event tab. But a recent trailer for the game’s new map, Empire of Eternal Night: Central Park, offers the clearest hints that Blade is coming to Marvel Rivals.

The trailer teases a sneak peek at Blade’s in-game model, and heralds his arrival in a tabletop board game seen in Squirrel Girl’s lair. There, a set for the fictional game The Tomb of Dracula: War of Central Park shows Blade, Dr. Strange, and Squirrel Girl teaming up to take down Dracula.

Marvel and NetEase Games haven’t officially announced Blade’s arrival in Marvel Rivals, but his addition to the roster appears inevitable. It’s just a question of when; the Fantastic Four — Invisible Woman, Mr. Fantastic, the Thing, and Human Torch — were just added to the game as part of season 1 and season 1.5, but given the breakneck pace of Marvel Rivals, Blade could be showing up soon.

Season 2 of Marvel Rivals is expected to launch in April, and if Blade’s not here by then, we’ll be shocked.

Marvel Rivals’ roster now includes 37 superheroes and villains. But don’t expect four new heroes every season; NetEase Games has said that season 1 has “double the playable content of a regular season.”

Marvel Rivals is available as a free-to-play game on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.