NetEase launches Marvel Zombies PvE mode in Marvel Rivals

NetEase launched Marvel Rivals' first player versus environment mode, Marvel Zombies, on October 23, introducing a limited-time Halloween event that lets four players team up to fight endless waves of the undead in an overrun Midtown New York. The new horde mode, developed in collaboration with Marvel Animation, allows players to select from five restricted heroes — Thor, Blade, Magik, Jeff the Land Shark, and The Punisher — each outfitted with new abilities and traits tailored for cooperative survival. Players also face large bosses drawn from the animated series, including a zombified Namor and Scarlet Witch in her Queen of the Dead form.

Gameplay footage and developer notes show high enemy density and a steady progression of short- and long-term powerups that alter hero loadouts and performance over the course of each run. Examples of mode-specific changes include Thor maintaining a persistent Awakened state, Magik accessing an unlimited Darkchild form, Blade using bouncing Moon Blades, and Jeff employing close-range devouring moves that can clear crowds. The mode is intended to offer a different pace from the game's PvP matches, emphasizing cooperative survival and repeated...