Marvel Rivals’ new map is full of references to Spider-Man villains, but will they ever be playable?

Marvel Rivals' latest new map returns to New York City, which is a hotbed for heroes and villains in the Marvel universe. Naturally, it's full of a number of cool Easter eggs. Players have been exploring the new Lower Manhattan map all day and digging through its goods, and there are quite a few references to several villains, especially those who are a pain in the back for Spider-Man. And not just Kingpin, who's a part of the map and this season's storyline itself. Image via Marvel Rivals Reddit You can find Mysterio's helmet and cape (seen above), framed photos of characters like Norman Osborn (Green Goblin), Dr. Curt Connors (Lizard), Dr. Miles Warren (Jackal), references to Doctor Octopus, Scorpion, and more. Spidey's rogues gallery is especially potent, full of some of the most memorable and fun villains Marvel has ever made. So why the hell can't we play as any of them in the game? Kingpin is in there as a prop, basically. I know that bad guys could still be added down the line, but as any Marvel Rivals player would tell you, the game seemingly has an issue with making villains a part of the hero pool. Out of 48 playable heroes, Marvel Rivals only has about five or six true villains, and some of them aren't fully "bad" guys either, being either anti-heroes like Deadpool or having their own "good guy" arc at some point in time. And it's getting kind of stale. I'm well aware that there's an ongoing storyline being told here, and I'm enjoying it, but I would really love to see some sort of Sinister Six arc where we eventually get to play as characters like Doc Ock, or Green Goblin, or Scorpion, or even Lizard. And although I'm a Spidey stan through and through, there's plenty more where that came from. Villains for the X-Men (Mister Sinister, Juggernaut, Onslaught, Omega Red, etc.) or the Avengers, and every other team out there would be welcome additions. Give them to us, NetEase! Image via NetEase Games Thankfully, it appears as though The Hood may be next up on the additions to playable heroes, maybe next season. His powered-up cape can be found in the map, too, and the supervillain was also found within data mined game files around the time the game launched. This is a good start, but I personally wish to see more of Marvel's top evil-doers playable soon. The post Marvel Rivals’ new map is full of references to Spider-Man villains, but will they ever be playable? appeared first on Destructoid.

Apr 3, 2026 - 05:59

Marvel Rivals’ new map is full of references to Spider-Man villains, but will they ever be playable?

Marvel Rivals' latest new map returns to New York City, which is a hotbed for heroes and villains in the Marvel universe. Naturally, it's full of a number of cool Easter eggs.

Players have been exploring the new Lower Manhattan map all day and digging through its goods, and there are quite a few references to several villains, especially those who are a pain in the back for Spider-Man. And not just Kingpin, who's a part of the map and this season's storyline itself.

Image via Marvel Rivals Reddit You can find Mysterio's helmet and cape (seen above), framed photos of characters like Norman Osborn (Green Goblin), Dr. Curt Connors (Lizard), Dr. Miles Warren (Jackal), references to Doctor Octopus, Scorpion, and more.

Spidey's rogues gallery is especially potent, full of some of the most memorable and fun villains Marvel has ever made. So why the hell can't we play as any of them in the game? Kingpin is in there as a prop, basically. I know that bad guys could still be added down the line, but as any Marvel Rivals player would tell you, the game seemingly has an issue with making villains a part of the hero pool.

Out of 48 playable heroes, Marvel Rivals only has about five or six true villains, and some of them aren't fully "bad" guys either, being either anti-heroes like Deadpool or having their own "good guy" arc at some point in time. And it's getting kind of stale.

I'm well aware that there's an ongoing storyline being told here, and I'm enjoying it, but I would really love to see some sort of Sinister Six arc where we eventually get to play as characters like Doc Ock, or Green Goblin, or Scorpion, or even Lizard.

And although I'm a Spidey stan through and through, there's plenty more where that came from. Villains for the X-Men (Mister Sinister, Juggernaut, Onslaught, Omega Red, etc.) or the Avengers, and every other team out there would be welcome additions. Give them to us, NetEase!

Image via NetEase Games Thankfully, it appears as though The Hood may be next up on the additions to playable heroes, maybe next season. His powered-up cape can be found in the map, too, and the supervillain was also found within data mined game files around the time the game launched. This is a good start, but I personally wish to see more of Marvel's top evil-doers playable soon.

The post Marvel Rivals’ new map is full of references to Spider-Man villains, but will they ever be playable? appeared first on Destructoid.

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