On April 11, 2025, “Marvel Rivals” launched its second season, titled “The Hellfire Gala,” on PC and console platforms. This season introduces a hero and villain, a battle pass packed with cosmetics, and changes to ranked play.
At launch, players can take control of the new and visually striking Vanguard-class hero, Emma Frost, who debuted in “The Uncanny X-Men #129”. Her character is built around protecting her team and taking as much damage as possible using her telekinetic powers and diamond skin. She’s sure to be a popular pick, so she’s likely to be a frequent sight in matches.
Halfway through Season 2, the infamous villain Ultron, introduced in “Avengers #55”, is set to be released. Interestingly, this robotic villain, know for his hatred of humanity, is speculated by players to be in the Strategist Class. Many believe that his playstyle will focus on balancing both healing allies and damaging opponents. For now, though, this is all speculation.
“The Hellfire Gala” brings a new battle pass themed around fan favorite heroes attending the gala, wearing formal, fashion-forward attire. The featured final cosmetic is “Dance Partner”, a skin for Cloak and Dagger. This outfit is a fitting reward for players who complete the pass.
While everything seems amazing with this season, there’s one big controversy around the changes to ranked gameplay. Players in Gold Rank now have access to hero bans, which were originally only available to Diamond Rank and above. While this change isn’t especially concerning, the other adjustment has caused significant frustration. Players are rewarded rank-up points depending purely on their stats throughout the game. This causes people not to focus on winning the game and focus on improving individual stats rather than winning, simply to avoid losing rank. This causes a frustrating experience for players, myself included, who are focused on team success.
Marvel Rivals Season 2: “The Hellfire Gala” is aesthetically amazing and is enjoyable to play with all the new content added to the game. However, the ranked changes need to be adjusted so that players’ skills better reflect their rank. Many players and content creators express strong dissatisfaction with this season, often exaggerating its issues, but it is not as bad as they portray it.
Overall, I recommend trying out Season 2 of “Marvel Rivals,” “The Hellfire Gala,” and exploring the new characters. I have plenty of confidence that the developers will make appropriate changes to enhance the player experience.
