Marvel Rivals closed alpha release countdown: Exact start time and date

The level of excitement for Marvel Rivals is escalating daily, and if you can’t wait to try it firsthand, the closed alpha is your first big chance.

After rumors and speculation, the Marvel Rivals announcement trailer dropped on March 27, leaving the gaming community giddy. A six-vs-six shooter featuring an all-star cast of Marvel‘s finest is a dream come true.

We already know confirmed characters, maps, platforms, and Marvel Rivals‘ free-to-play status. More importantly, developer NetEase revealed that Marvel Rivals is getting a closed alpha to test the waters and ensure our world can handle the might of umpteen superheroes.

Let’s see its exact start time and countdown to its release.

Marvel Rivals closed alpha release time and date

The Marvel Rivals closed alpha begins on May 10, 2024 at 7pm CT, meaning it will go live for the nighttime on the U.S. that weekend.

NetEase revealed the news in a FAQ released on May 7, confirming that the game’s Competitive mode will become available from 7pm to 2am CT, and then between 2pm and 2am CT on subsequent days after that “to ensure optimal matchmaking due to lower player numbers during late night/early mornings.”

If you want a visual indicator of what this looks like, here’s a second-by-second countdown until the Marvel Rivals closed alpha begins, with this countdown set to midnight Central Time on May 10.

Only around 30,000 players will be selected to participate in the alpha test, but NetEase said to “stay tuned for announcements as there will be more opportunities to join.”

The closed alpha test will include many playable characters, including Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Groot, Hela, Hulk, Iron Man, Loki, Luna Snow, Magik, Magneto, Mantis, Namor, Peni Parker, Punisher, Rocket Raccoon, Star-Lord, Storm, Scarlet Witch, and Spider-Man.

There will also be three game modes (Convoy, Domination, and Convergence) along with three maps (Yggsgard: Yggdrasill Path, Yggsgard: Royal Palace, and Tokyo 2099: Shin-Shibuya) throughout the test’s 10 day duration.

Keep checking back for updates on the Marvel Rivals closed alpha, as alterations could occur at any point. Until then, let’s look at what the main Marvel Rivals’ release date could be.