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, developing the game itself.

Last month, dataminers uncovered names of potential heroes embedded in Marvel Rivals' code; some were quickly confirmed with the Fantastic Four's official announcement. However, as the list expanded, a theory emerged: some names were intentionally misleading placeholders.

The community remains divided on the authenticity of these datamined characters.

We directly questioned Marvel Rivals producer Weicong Wu and Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo about this alleged "elaborate troll." While denying any deliberate deception, they advised caution in interpreting the code's contents. Wu explained: "We don't recommend adjusting game files. Each character undergoes a complex process—concept, trials, prototypes, etc. 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."

Koo added, "A ten-year plan would be ideal, but the team experiments with various play styles and heroes. It's like finding a discarded notebook of scratch work—context is crucial." When directly asked about a deliberate troll, Koo stated, "No. We prefer focusing on game development."

NetEase proposes potential additions to Marvel Games, initiating initial designs. Community enthusiasm and upcoming Marvel film/comic plans are also considered before a final decision is made. This explains the extensive list of heroes in the code—reflecting NetEase's numerous ongoing ideas.

Marvel Rivals enjoyed a strong launch, and each new character enhances the game. Human Torch and The Thing are the latest additions, arriving February 21st. We also discussed a potential Nintendo Switch 2 release for Marvel Rivals (details available elsewhere).