Is Marvel Rivals free to play?

In an age where AAA games are regularly released for free, Marvel Rivals’ success could already hinge on whether the devs make the shooter free-to-play.

The free-to-play shooter market is about as intense and competitive as it can be right now. Mainstays like Counter-Strike and Team Fortress 2 are competing with the likes of Call of Duty, Fortnite, Overwatch, and Apex Legends, and then newcomers—like The FINALS—decide they want in. Now Marvel Rivals wants a turn, and this explosive-looking shooter might stand a chance.

Carrying the weight of the Marvel name alone is enough to skip to the front of the queue, but promising six-vs-six, high-octane Overwatch-style matches? Well, that’s enough for anyone to shout “I am Groot.” Here’s all the information you need about how much Marvel Rivals will cost.

Will Marvel Rivals be free?

Marvel Rivals will be completely free to play, developer NetEase Games has confirmed.

We don’t know the full extent of the voice cast, we don’t even know the complete hero roster, and we’ve only seen a handful of the maps that are still to come. That said, we can safely expect Marvel Rivals to incorporate the now-traditional live service model featuring a battle pass, cosmetics, and microtransactions.

What we don’t know, however, is whether or not playable heroes will cost money or in-game currency. Overwatch dabbled with both free and pay-to-play heroes, while a game like Apex Legends allows you to buy them with real money or earn them via in-game currencies. Marvel Rivals fans are eager to see how the new heroes can be earned, but that information has not been made official just yet.

The public’s first taste of Marvel Rivals came courtesy of the exclusive closed alpha test that began on May 10, with the doors opening up to more players in the closed beta test. A full release date is yet to be announced.

This article will be updated with official information on pricing in Marvel Rivals when it becomes available.