Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 arrives with Ultron and significant gameplay additions. Discover what awaits players with the new playable character and seasonal updates.
Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 Updates
The Rise of Ultron
The upcoming Season 2.5 update introduces Ultron as a new playable hero. NetEase Games confirmed via Twitter (X) on May 23 that Ultron will be available starting May 30 following maintenance.
According to Marvel Rivals' Dev Vision Vol. 06, Ultron serves as a Strategist capable of providing consistent healing support. His aerial mobility makes him unique among Strategists, enabling innovative airborne compositions. His primary weapon delivers three low-damage attacks followed by a powerful finishing strike with virtually unlimited range.
Ultron deploys healing drones that attach to allies, with abilities that can provide overhealing to both targeted heroes and nearby teammates. His ultimate ability simultaneously damages enemies while healing allies within its radius.
The update brings Ultron's X-Tron skin – inspired by his Cerebro takeover – along with Groot's Norse Mythology-themed Yggroot variant. Pricing and bundle details remain unconfirmed at launch.
Season 2.5 Launch Details
The Season 2.5 update arrives May 30 following a 2-3 hour maintenance window starting at 2 AM PDT / 9 AM UTC. Players worldwide should adjust for their local time zones accordingly.
Balance changes target several heroes: Captain America's health decreases, Doctor Strange's damage output increases slightly, while Emma Frost gains extended range. These adjustments aim to counter the current "dive meta" favoring aggressive close-quarters specialists.
Following the Hellfire Gala Krakoa battleground, Season 2.5 introduces Arrako – Krakoa's sister island currently under Ultron's control. Heroes must unite with Krakoa to liberate the besieged territory.
The Cerebro Database II event runs from May 30 to June 27, offering Hawkeye's Binary Arrow costume as a free reward through mission completion.
Gameplay Innovations Coming
Season 2.5 introduces six new Team-Up abilities including Rocket Network (Rocket Raccoon/Peni Parker) and Stark Protocol (Iron Man/Ultron), while removing four outdated combinations.
A revolutionary experimental mode dubbed "Ultron's Battle Matrix Protocol" launches June 6. Creative Director Guangguang describes this strategic mode allowing customized hero builds and tactical battles reminiscent of auto-chess formats.
Additionally, NetEase confirms seasons will shrink from three months to two starting Season 3, aligning with monthly hero releases rather than bi-seasonal additions.
Marvel Rivals continues expanding its roster and refining gameplay mechanics across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms.
