Marvel Rivals' Season 1 is officially underway, with the first half of its content having been dropped on June 03, 2025. Included with Season 1 is two new maps, both finding their setting in a vampire-infested New York City. Sanctum Sanctorum, the home of Dr. Strange, is the smaller of the two, and is being reserved exclusively for arcade game modes. While the map has more limited accessibility and a smaller scope, it points towards an exciting future forRivals' arcade game mode.
Despite its size, the map is beautifully rendered; it uses Dr. Strange portals, with their strange perspectives and unique angles, to their maximum. It’s a quirky map used for a less serious experience. Despite its current, more limited use, the effort put into its design is an indicator that NetEase is taking their alternative game modes seriously. Following the recentJeff Christmas event, with its lightheartedSplatoon-inspiredgame mode, players can be sure to anticipate acontinued dedication toMarvel Rivalsbeyond its primary mode of play.
The Sanctum Sanctorum Looks Like An Investment Into Arcade Game Modes
Sanctum Sanctorum’s Polish & Creativity Is A Good Sign
TheSanctum Sanctorum is a wonderfully realized rendition of the Sorcerer Supreme’s home base. The portals and teleport interactables dotting the map have created a magical atmosphere, wherein players can quickly lose track of their spatial awareness. It has a certain Hogwarts-esque charm to it, with the rooms appearing shifty and dynamic in their interiors and entrances, and being covered in grand decorations and mystical artifacts.The design is compelling, both from a visual and gameplay perspective, and clearly has had an abundance of passion and time put into it.
The Use Of Mods Has Been Disabled With The Launch Of Marvel Rivals Season One, Including Fan-Made Skins
The developers at NetEase say that mods are against Marvel Rivals' terms of use, meaning that custom fan-made skins will no longer be available.
Currently, the Sanctum is home to Doom Match duringMarvel Rivals' Midnight event, a free-for-all deathmatch game mode with rotating spawns. However, it would be shocking if NetEase put so much effort into a map that is exclusively used in custom arcade games and a temporary, seasonal game-mode. Regardless of their future intentions for the Sanctum in particular, its creationclearly points to a dedication towards alternative modes of play.
Arcade Has Limitless Potential With Marvel’s Doctor Strange IP
Marvel Rivals' Has The Space For Truly Unique Experiences
Based upon how far NetEase was able to push the Sanctum with the already implemented Dr. Strange portals, there is astaggering amount of creative room for future maps and game modeswithinRivals.Overwatchwent quite far with its own arcade mode, allowing for player creations and being supported by Blizzard’s own official modes. Limited time PvE experiences, sports-themed PvP such as Lucioball, and the abundance of masterful player creations have created a space that caters to a diverse range of player interests withinOverwatch.
Marvel Rivals Nailed One Element With The Fantastic Four
Season 1 of Marvel Rivals will be adding The Fantastic Four, Marvel’s First Family, and has nailed one element about the group to bring them to life.
While player-made game modes may be a far-fetched idea forMarvel Rivals,the number of released temporary game modes and events is already impressive. With Jeff’s Winter Splash inRivals' season 0, and a new map and game-mode in season 1,NetEase is certainly not slouching in their arcade department. TheMarvelIP is at NetEase’s disposal; the options for future events and game-modes feels near limitless, especially with the diverse range of characters and ability kits already in the game.
Arcade Events & Game Modes Are A Perfect Inclusion For Rivals
Catering To All Fans Is Essential For Long Term Engagement
Rivalshas had an undisputedly successful launch. Season 1’s release has seen a new all-timepeak player count forMarvel Rivalson Steam, passing 600,000 concurrent players. Further development of arcade game modes offers a wonderful opportunity to create a space where players of any skill level and of any interest can enter a purely for-fun game space. Many players have surely tuned in toRivalsbecause of the IP alone, so utilizing that IP, in part, for more laid-back game modes is aperfect way to provide a space for fans who may be overwhelmed by the competitive genre.
Not only doesRivalstake place within a massive IP, to its own credit, it’s a truly memorable translation of it. With IP-based games being traditionally hit-or-miss, allowing players to enjoy such a well-crafted rendition of a beloved franchise is admirable. WhileMarvel Rivalsis a hero-shooter first, and a great one at that, fan support is how it will continue to develop. Catering to fans of all sorts should be a priority for NetEase withMarvel Rivals, not only to fuel the hero-shooter,but to allow players to enjoy the space they have crafted to its full potential.
