Marvel Rivals dataminers suspect the developers are playfully misleading them with lists of potential future characters hidden within the game's code. However, NetEase and Marvel maintain they have more pressing priorities—namely, the game's ongoing development.

Last month, dataminers uncovered names of potential future heroes embedded in Marvel Rivals' code; some, like the Fantastic Four, were swiftly confirmed. However, as the list expanded, speculation arose that some names were deliberately misleading placeholders.

The community remains divided on the authenticity of the datamined characters. We directly questioned Marvel Rivals producer Weicong Wu and Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo about this alleged "troll." While denying any intentional deception, they advised caution in interpreting the code's contents. Wu explained: "We don't recommend adjusting game files. Each character undergoes a complex design process involving concepts, trials, prototypes, and development. Some information might remain in the code, reflecting explored directions that may or may not become future additions. Their inclusion depends entirely on player expectations and desired gameplay experiences."

Koo elaborated, likening the situation to "someone doing scratch paperwork and leaving a notebook behind, which a dataminer then opens without context." When directly asked about a deliberate troll, Koo stated, "No. We'd rather spend our time developing the actual game."

These suggestions are then presented to Marvel Games, followed by initial designs. Community interest and planned Marvel projects (films, comics) are also considered, ultimately shaping the final decision. The extensive list of heroes in the code reflects NetEase's ongoing brainstorming process.

Marvel Rivals launched successfully, and each new character enhances the game. The Human Torch and The Thing are slated to join the roster on February 21. We also discussed the potential for a Nintendo Switch 2 release (details available elsewhere).