Marvel fans have rallied behind NetEase Inc's (NASDAQ:NTES) NetEase Games' latest release, Marvel Rivals, a free-to-play, team-based PvP shooter that has made an impressive debut on Steam.

Within hours of its launch, the game reached a peak concurrent player count of 444,286. And, at the time of writing, 262,115 players are actively battling across Marvel Rivals' dynamic arenas, according to Steam's player count.

With the weekend approaching, this number is expected to climb as more fans log in to explore the Marvel universe in an all-new way.

A Positive Reception

The game has received a "mostly positive" rating on Steam, with players highlighting its engaging gameplay and character selection

"Marvel Rivals is proving that the competitive multiplayer space does indeed have room for new titles. Just gotta get the execution right," wrote one reviewer. Another added, "Finallyyyyyy, a game that's actually fun."

The game's cooperative nature and engaging mechanics have also garnered praise, with one user lauding the team behind it: "First off, the team is amazing, and the gameplay is fantastic – I just love it."

A Star-Studded Roster

One of the standout features of Marvel Rivals is its extensive roster of Marvel heroes. Players can team up with iconic characters like Iron Man, Hulk, and Scarlet Witch or delve into deeper cuts from the Marvel universe, including Squirrel Girl, Cloak and Dagger, and Iron Fist. The pre-launch announcement of Black Widow and Wolverine also added to the buzz surrounding the game.

Described by Marvel Games head Jay Ong as "one of the team's most ambitious projects," the game delivers fast-paced cooperative gameplay designed to appeal to fans of the Marvel universe and competitive multiplayer games alike.

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Image courtesy: NetEase.