Marvel Rivals Expands its Universe with a Captain America: Brave New World Crossover
Marvel Rivals, a leading mobile fighting game, is experiencing a surge in popularity, establishing itself as a major force in both the gaming community and the broader Marvel universe. This success has paved the way for exciting collaborations with other Marvel properties, including a recent crossover event with the upcoming film, Captain America: Brave New World. This collaboration offers players a chance to acquire a unique "mystery" skin by purchasing movie tickets through Regal Crown Club, a subscription service offered by the Regal cinema chain. This limited-time promotion, running until February 17th (shortly after the film’s February 14th release), provides a digital bundle containing a Hulk-themed spray, a Sam Wilson Captain America nameplate, and the enigmatic mystery costume.
The identity of the mystery costume has become a subject of intense speculation within the Marvel Rivals community. While the crossover’s association with Captain America: Brave New World introduces several new characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), such as Sidewinder, The Leader, Captain America (Sam Wilson), and Red Hulk, the possibilities for the mystery skin appear to be narrowed down considerably. Sidewinder and The Leader seem unlikely choices due to their lack of established playable characters within Marvel Rivals. Similarly, introducing Sam Wilson as a skin for Steve Rogers Captain America presents logistical challenges, as it would involve significant character alterations, including the addition of wings, not to mention undermining Sam’s own standalone Cap identity. Moreover, leaked information regarding future skin releases does not include Sam Wilson Captain America, further diminishing this possibility.
This leaves Red Hulk as the most plausible candidate for the mystery costume. The transformation from the base Hulk character model to Red Hulk would primarily involve altering skin color and facial features, a relatively straightforward modification. However, the Red Hulk persona’s connection to General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, rather than the game’s established Hulk alter ego, Bruce Banner, presents a potential complication. If the developers choose to accurately represent the Red Hulk, they might need to create a completely new Thaddeus Ross skin, a significantly more complex undertaking.
The prospect of a Thaddeus Ross-based Red Hulk skin holds significant appeal for many players. Such a skin could become one of the most sought-after Hulk variations in the game. Even a simple Red Hulk skin without the Ross connection would be a welcome addition. However, restricting access to this skin through the Regal Crown Club promotion has generated some controversy. This exclusivity presents several barriers for players, including the subscription fee associated with Regal Crown Club, the limited geographical availability of Regal cinemas, and the international reach of Marvel Rivals, which extends far beyond the reach of the Regal chain. This limited accessibility could lead to frustration among players unable to participate in the promotion.
Despite the limitations of the Regal Crown Club promotion, there remains a possibility that the Red Hulk skin, if it is indeed the mystery costume, could eventually become available through other means. The promotion does not explicitly label the skin as “exclusive,” suggesting that it might be added to the in-game store at a later date. Such a move would address the accessibility concerns and allow a wider player base to acquire the skin. This approach would represent a compromise between the promotional benefits of the initial exclusive release and the desire to make the content accessible to all players.
The ongoing mystery surrounding the true identity of the costume, coupled with the lack of official confirmation, continues to fuel speculation and anticipation within the Marvel Rivals community. The decision to withhold the reveal until closer to the film’s release, despite the potential to boost ticket sales with an earlier announcement, raises further questions. Whether the mystery skin proves to be the anticipated Red Hulk or another unexpected character, its eventual reveal is sure to be a significant event in the Marvel Rivals world. The long-term availability and distribution of the skin will be a key factor in determining the overall success and reception of this intriguing crossover event.
