NetEase Games has unveiled the details of Marvel Rivals Season 3.5, providing fans their first glimpse of Blade and other new content slated for release in August.
The studio presented a comprehensive overview of the mid-season update, spotlighting how players can leverage Blade’s legendary abilities as part of the upcoming update set for August 8. This follows the recent launch of Season 3: The Abyss Awakens, featuring Jean Grey, indicating NetEase’s commitment to a rapid content release schedule.
Blade Joins Marvel Rivals in Upcoming Update
The long-awaited addition of Blade as a playable character in Marvel Rivals is finally here. Although he first appeared in Season 1, he has only served as an NPC until now.
Players will soon have the opportunity to play as Blade, a Duelist using his shotgun at mid-to-close range before finishing off opponents with his Ancestral Sword. His ultimate ability, the Sword of Dracula, allows him to sweep through enemy teams dramatically.
NetEase describes Blade’s compelling backstory: “Born of two worlds, Eric Brooks embodies the light of his mother and the darkness of the vampire that attacked her, evolving into the Daywalker—the ultimate vampire hunter.
“After facing Dracula in New York and being imprisoned, Blade found recovery in Wakanda and has now been recruited by Shuri to combat dark forces like Hela and Knull.”
Improvements and New Features in Marvel Rivals
Alongside the August 8 update, changes to team-up abilities are also coming. Guardian Revival and Atlas Bond will be removed, and Loki will no longer be part of Ragnarök Rebirth, giving way to new team-ups: Duality Dance with Adam Warlock and Luna Snow, and Vibrant Vitality with Mantis alongside Groot or Loki. Existing team-ups will expand as well, adding Iron Fist to Chilling Assault, Star-Lord to Rocket Network, and Blade to Lunar Force.
NetEase is also implementing measures to foster a positive gaming environment under “Operation: Shield the Community,” introducing a custom text chat filter for players to mute specific words. This initiative will be monitored, and common muted words may be added to an official list.
Additionally, harsher penalties will be enforced for players leaving Competitive modes, such as extended bans and increased point deductions, with remaining players receiving point compensation. Leaver penalties will be assessed individually, and NetEase pledges to expedite the appeals process.
Later in August, a new Resource Rumble mode and its associated Throne of Knull map will be introduced on August 22. While specifics are still under wraps, NetEase promises more details soon, first launching Resource Rumble in Quick Match before it moves to Competitive play.
As NetEase continues to stick to its bi-monthly seasonal release schedule, fans can look forward to a more rapid introduction of new characters as the team addresses player feedback with consistent updates.
