NetEase Games, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has responded swiftly to the community's concerns just days after fans initiated a widespread Support strike. Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has seen a surge in popularity with the introduction of new characters, maps, and game modes. However, the balance adjustments have led to dissatisfaction among players, particularly those who play as Strategists, the game's Support class. With Vanguards and Duelists gaining significant power, Strategists have found themselves struggling in matches, often facing not just challenging but toxic gameplay experiences where teammates unfairly blame them for losses.
AnswerSee ResultsThe frustration reached a peak when hundreds of players took to social media to announce their refusal to play as healers until NetEase addressed the issues. A Reddit user encapsulated the sentiment, stating, "We’re not asking to be glorified or seen as the ‘hardest’ role - because I don’t think we are. We just want basic respect. It’s tiring to be called brain dead or worthless when your stats are solid and you’re playing your role the way it’s meant to be played."
I Need Healing
In response to the community's outcry, NetEase published a Dev Talk post detailing their strategy to alleviate the pressure on Strategists. Their approach is twofold: enhancing the Support role and adjusting the Competitive mode to be more rewarding. The upcoming patch will see an increase in "threat levels" for Strategists, potentially buffing characters like Invisible Woman and Jeff the Land Shark. Meanwhile, Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot may see nerfs to their survivability, and Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability will experience a reduced damage range. Specific details about which characters will be affected are forthcoming.
NetEase emphasized a cautious approach to these mid-season adjustments, aiming to enhance the experience without drastically shifting the game's meta. "Since this is a mid-season balance adjustment, we aim to be cautious, keeping changes minimal to enhance the experience of certain heroes without drastically altering the overall meta," they stated. Looking ahead to Season 2.5, with the arrival of Ultron and new Team-Up Ability adjustments, more comprehensive balance changes are on the horizon.
In the Competitive mode, adjustments to performance rating calculations are planned to ensure fairness across all heroes, as Duelists have had an advantage since Season 2's launch. "Balancing the game and rank adjustments is a challenging endeavor, and we can't guarantee perfection 100% of the time," NetEase noted. "However, we remain humble and attentive, striving to address issues promptly and enhance your experience. Stay tuned for official patch announcements for more updates. Thank you for your support and patience!"
Season 2 introduced Emma Frost as a new Vanguard hero, with Ultron set to join the roster in Season 2.5. As the community awaits the impact of these balance changes on the Support strike, fans can look forward to potential new content, such as a collection of swimsuit skins teased by Marvel.
