NetEase and Marvel have been collaborating to add in-depth lore toMarvel Rivalsthat players may be unaware of. With Blade leaked as a character roster addition sometime in the future, NetEase and Marvel should consider fan response to some new Season 1 additions as they perfect the vampire hunter forMarvel Rivals. While Marvel shouldn’t just look at fan response before perfecting Blade forMarvel Rivals, this info should be kept in mind as development for the MCU’sBladecontinues.
By every metric, Marvel Rivals Season 1’s additions have blown players away. Withthe expanded Battle Pass compared to Season 0, two new characters with more allegedly on the way, and plenty of new skins,Marvel Rivalsis maintaining its incredible momentum after taking the hero shooter genre by storm.
Marvel Rivals' Lore is the Best Path for Character Additions
One of the best parts ofMarvel Rivalsis also understandably overlooked. Sure, Invisible Woman and Mr. Fantastic are thrilling new additions to the shooter’s character roster, but they’ve also heavily expanded the game’s lore. The Season 1 release trailer and the game’s new main menu opening sequence both highlightthe threats the Fantastic Four faceand what drew them into the shooter in the first place. A villain to rival them all, Dracula is the main antagonist ofMarvel RivalsSeason 1.
Of course, the best combatant against a vampire is a vampire hunter. Dracula could easily set up Blade’s addition toMarvel Rival’s character roster, but NetEase and Marvel should watch how fans react to Dracula as a villain before committing to using him as a gateway for Blade. In fact, officialartwork of Blade facing off against Draculahas already been revealed byMarvel Rivals, solidifying that the two may face off in the shooter’s lore sometime in the future.
By navigating to “Heroes,” players can select a hero of their choosing and read one of the various stories centered on the character. These stories focus onMarvel Rivals’ version of the character, giving players a clear view of how the hero differs from their MCU, film, television, or comic adaptations. These stories also mention other characters that have yet to be introduced toMarvel Rivals’ character roster. As Dracula’s story progresses throughout Season 1, perhaps Blade will be mentioned in the lore associated with otherupcomingMarvel Rivalsheroes like the Thing or the Human Torch.
Marvel Rivals Could Change the MCU’s Blade
Reactions from fans both to the Dracula versus Blade storyline and Blade as aMarvel Rivalsaddition as a whole could alter the upcomingBladefilm. The film’s production history has been a bit rocky to say the least, as filming forBladewas halted due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023. The lack of information about the film’s production and development over the last year led fans to believe that the project may be scrapped, butKevin Feige has confirmed that Marvelis dedicated to completing the film.
Story details for the film also have yet to be released in full. Though it’s unlikely that the MCUBladeadaptation’s plot will be similar to his lore inMarvel Rivals, the shooter would be a great opportunity for moviegoers to become acquainted with a new version of the character. WhileWesley Snipes’ portrayal of the vampire hunteris iconic, modern audiences will likely associate the character with its most recent adaptation inMarvel Rivals. To prime the next generation for Blade, Marvel needs to consider how the character will shapeMarvel Rivalsand, in turn, the MCU.
