Get ready, Marvel fans! Marvel Rivals is set to complete The Fantastic Four lineup with the launch of The Thing and Human Torch as playable characters on February 21, 2025. This exciting announcement came alongside news of the Season 1.5 update, scheduled to roll out during the second half of Season 1. While the specifics of this update remain under wraps, a Dev Talk blog post on the Marvel Rivals website has hinted at "major balance adjustments" to keep the game fresh and engaging.

As for The Thing and Human Torch, the anticipation is high to see how these iconic characters will enhance the roster with their unique abilities. Following the introduction of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman at the start of Season 1, players have already experienced shifts in the game's meta. Reed Richards brought his elastic, goofy moves to the battlefield, while Sue Storm introduced stealth mechanics with her invisibility powers. Fans are eager to see what Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm will bring to the table, and hopefully, NetEase will unveil some gameplay footage soon.

The upcoming Season 1 update will also feature a rank reset for Ranked players. On February 21, your rank will drop by four divisions; for instance, a Diamond I player on February 20 will find themselves at Platinum II the following day. NetEase has outlined future plans, stating that new seasons will result in a six-division drop, while half-season updates like this one will involve a four-division drop. As the game evolves, NetEase promises to "tune this as necessary" to meet players' expectations.

For those in the competitive scene, there's good news: players in the Gold rank and above can look forward to new costume rewards with the launch of Season 1's second half. Additionally, NetEase is introducing new Crests of Honor to celebrate players at the ranks of Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All (reserved for the top 500 players).

Superhero enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting more details on Marvel Rivals' post-launch strategy, and the addition of The Fantastic Four is just the start. Last month, creative director Guangyun Chen sparked excitement by promising to release a new playable character every half-season. This means a new Marvel hero will join the fray approximately every six weeks, keeping the game dynamic and drawing players back for more with each seasonal update. There's growing evidence to suggest the vampire-hunting Daywalker Blade might be the next addition, though beyond some rumors and leaks that have had players debating for weeks, the future of Marvel Rivals remains shrouded in mystery.

While you wait for the mid-season update to shake things up, you can check out our current Marvel Rivals Season 1 tier list to find out the best characters. Also, take a look at how the original Season 1 patch turned the meta on its head and why the community got so heated over the alleged bot issue in Marvel Rivals.