Image: NetEase Games
Marvel Rivals has a surprisingly generous battle pass system.
NetEase Games has outlined its plans for monetising Marvel Rivals, including new information on its in-game currency, cosmetics, and battle pass system. The Overwatch-like hero shooter has a rather generous approach to its seasonal battle passes as well: they simply won’t expire. Players will be able to earn rewards for their purchased battle passes in subsequent seasons even if they don’t finish them in the current season, allowing them to avoid FOMO (fear of missing out).
Additionally, the game will launch with a shortened battle pass as part of Season 0.
Marvel Rivals reveals monetisation plans, permanent battle passes
Anyone who worried that the free-to-play game Marvel Rivals might feature troublesome levels of monetisation can rest easy for now. A new developer update from NetEase Games has detailed the game’s microtransactions, including a confirmation that the game will charge players “for cosmetics that will provide only visual changes, with no stat bonuses or pay-to-win elements."
All gameplay additions, like new maps and heroes, will be available to all players for free. When they want to spend money on cosmetics however, they’ll need to use two currencies: Lattice, an in-game currency purchased with real-world money, and Units, which can be used to purchase cosmetics and are earned simply by playing the game. Units and Lattice can be exchanged at a 1:1 ratio.
Most skins, MVP animations, nameplates, emotes, and sprays will be sold as a packaged bundle in the store – though certain skins can be purchased separately. If you’d like to earn more cosmetics for less real-world money, you’ll have to fork out for the battle pass. Season 0’s premium battle pass will cost 490 Lattices, and upon purchasing it, players will be able to earn battle pass tokens (Chrono Tokens) to redeem items by completing challenges.
This is pretty standard for most multiplayer games in this day and age, except for one thing: the game’s battle passes will persist through each in-game season so long as players have purchased them, which means that they can theoretically earn rewards from multiple battle passes after a few seasons. They just have to grind out enough Chrono Tokens to do so.
Some games – like Halo Infinite and Helldivers 2 – have also opted for a permanent battle pass system like this one, which is nice to have for players who get slapped with FOMO every time they miss out on completing a battle pass before season’s end. Season 0 will be a little easier to complete thanks to its short duration, with a half-priced battle pass containing half the usual amount of items.
Marvel Rivals will launch on December 6, 2024.
