Doctor Octopus Joins Marvel Rivals: Fan-Created Concept Goes Viral

NetEase Games has committed to introducing at least one new Marvel Rivals hero every half-season, yet this hasn't stopped fans from imagining additional characters. A creative player named WickedCube recently shared an innovative concept on Reddit, captivating the r/MarvelRivals community with a 30-second video showcasing a rough gameplay prototype of Doctor Octopus.

The footage, initially appearing to feature a pre-Hulk Bruce Banner in a testing room, actually unveils an eight-armed Doctor Octopus, inspired by the classic Spider-Man villain. WickedCube's design presents a unique take on Doc Ock, complete with a concept that allows the character to navigate around obstacles using his arms, effectively "flying" near stable structures. This is particularly intriguing in a game with destructible environments. The prototype includes specific abilities like Havoc Claw for melee attacks and Wrecking Grip for ranged combat, earning an impressive 16,000 upvotes on Reddit.

WickedCube, inspired by the challenge of implementing Doc Ock's tentacles in a 3D environment, developed this concept during a PSN outage when he couldn't play Marvel Rivals. Previously working with Keen Software House on Space Engineers, he resigned in January 2024 to focus on personal projects. The positive reception to his Doc Ock concept has been "incredibly rewarding," and he's open to NetEase adopting his ideas should they decide to include the character officially. While he has no plans to further polish the design, he aims to release a playable version soon and share his process through a YouTube tutorial series, with the code available on GitHub and playable versions on Itch.

As NetEase gears up to introduce the Human Torch and The Thing to Marvel Rivals this Friday, following the earlier launch of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, the game continues to expand its roster at a pace that outstrips its competitors. The community's enthusiasm for more Vanguard characters like Doctor Octopus reflects the vast potential of Marvel's universe. WickedCube is already brainstorming more concepts, including Nightcrawler and Professor Xavier.

With Marvel Rivals set to release its Season 1 mid-season update on February 21, featuring new characters, balance changes, and gameplay tweaks, the game's future looks bright. Meanwhile, fans can stay informed about recent layoffs at NetEase's Seattle branch and the studio's stance on rumors about planted hero leaks.