You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Season 2.5 of Marvel Rivals will bring another free skin. NetEase revealed it on Friday, showing off its incredible style. The skin will be for Hawkeye, one of the game’s ranged Duelists, and it will be available for a limited time. Alongside it, the content update will bring a variety of new features, including a new hero, a new map, balance changes, and more. It’s no secret that Hawkeye has been one of the least popular heroes in Marvel Rivals. However, the release of his free skin should increase his popularity, which is why we expect his pick rate to skyrocket once Season 2.5 comes out. How to get the free Hawkeye skin in Marvel Rivals? The free Hawkeye skin is called Binary Arrow and is arguably one of the best skins NetEase has made. The skin will be available in the seasonal event, which will come out on the first day of the season. The next Marvel Rivals update is scheduled for May 30, and this is when you will be able to start working on unlocking the new skin. Hawkeye will get a free skin in Marvel Rivals Season 2.5. Image by VideoGamer The best part? The free Marvel Rivals skin will be available for four weeks. The event runs until June 27, giving everyone plenty of time to claim it. While the exact method for unlocking the skin hasn’t been revealed yet, past events suggest you’ll likely need to complete limited-time quests to earn it. The upcoming update will bring a significant amount of new content, including numerous game-changing balance changes. The patch will come out at 2 AM Pacific Daylight Time, and NetEase expects servers to be down for two to three hours. Once they come back up, you will be able to enjoy the new content and play with Ultron. Marvel Rivals Platform(s): macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X Genre(s): Fighting, Shooter Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Season 2.5 of Marvel Rivals will be one of the biggest updates the game has ever had. Ultron, a new Strategist, is coming to the game, along with a new Convoy map. NetEase will also release numerous UI improvements, balance changes, and new features. One of these will be a so-called Combat Chest, which is Marvel Rivals’ twist on loot boxes. The game developer has revealed a couple of details on how this is going to work. For now, it appears that this is a mix of a loot box and a Battle Pass. These chests will come in two versions, and to get the premium version, you will have to upgrade it with in-game currency. Is Marvel Rivals adding loot boxes? The next Marvel Rivals update will be one of the biggest. It will add a significant amount of new content, refreshing the game and making it more interesting. NetEase has already revealed the patch notes, which also mention Combat Chests. These will essentially be loot boxes that include cosmetic items and will be available for a limited time. The game developer revealed that Combat Chests will include costumes, emojis, mood icons, and other rewards. It will be possible to level it up by earning XP in matches. Furthermore, Combat Chests will have a premium version that includes even more rewards. However, we currently don’t know how much this version is going to cost. Season 2.5 brings lots of new content, including Ultron. Image by VideoGamer The Combat Chest will go live in Marvel Rivals on the first day of Season 2.5, May 30, and remain available until July 11. While we’ll need to wait a bit longer to learn the full details of how the system functions, it appears to be another method of rewarding active players with cosmetic items, which is a welcome addition. The big update will also bring a free skin for Hawkeye, which looks amazing! Marvel Rivals Platform(s): macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X Genre(s): Fighting, Shooter Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

Find insight on the “Trump strangle,” Lenovo, NetEase, AT&T and more in the latest Market Talks covering Technology, Media and Telecom.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Season 2.5 of Marvel Rivals is set to come out on Friday, May 30. This will be a massive update, as NetEase will add Ultron, a new Strategist hero. On top of this, the game developer will bring many other changes, including balance changes for more than a dozen heroes. In this article, we will reveal all the heroes that will receive buffs and nerfs with the release of Marvel Rivals Season 2.5. Check out if your main hero will be affected! All buffs and nerfs coming in Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 May 30 will bring a massive mid-season update that will completely shift the meta. In total, nine characters will receive nerfs, while six will be buffed. Furthermore, NetEase will release a kit rework for Jeff the Land Shark. Here are the heroes that will receive buffs in the next Marvel Rivals update: HeroBuffDoctor StrangeRemoved damage falloff on Maelstrom of Madness / Reduced falloff of Daggers of DenakThe PunisherImproved accuracy and magazine size / Added +25 HP and +5% damage boost as Team-Up AnchorStormIncreased damage of ultimate from 150/s to 160/sSquirrel GirlAmmo capacity increased by 2 / Mammal Bond cooldown decreased by 2 secondsMagnetoMagnetic Rings charge speed is now 3 seconds instead of 4sLuna SnowIncreased primary healing by 2 / Absolute Zero now grants 50 Bonus HP / Increased cost of ultimate Doctor Strange will finally be buffed in Marvel Rivals Season 2.5. Image by VideoGamer On the other hand, these are Marvel Rivals heroes that will receive nerfs with Season 2.5: HeroNerfGrootDecreased Vine Strike damage by 5 / Increased Ironwood Wall cooldown by 4 secondsEmma FrostIncreased Telepathic Pulse range / Decreased Mind’s Aegis shield value / Increased Carbon Crush cooldown / Decreased Crystal Kick damage, including bonus wall damageCaptain AmericaReduced health by 25 / Increased shield recovery delay after Living Legend by 2 seconds / Increased ultimate costRocket RacoonReduced healing by 5 HP per second / Added 5% healing as Team-Up AnchorNamorBlessing of the Deep cooldown increased by 5 seconds / Monstro Spawn falloff increased to 50% / Changed circle radius of ultimate and reduced the damage of outer circlePsylockeWing Shurikens return damage decreased to 12 / Psychic Stealth duration decreased to 2sHuman TorchFire Cluster per hit damage reduced to 6 / Blazing Blast charge time longer by 1s / Flaming Meteor shield reduced by 25 / Flaming Meteor cooldown increased by 5sIron FistDragon’s Defense bonus health conversion reduced to 1.3 / Max bonus HP from blocked damage decreased to 175 / Yat Jee Chung Kuen dash distance reduced / Yeet Kune Do cooldown reductionIron ManReduced damage of Repulsor Blast’s third shot / Armor Overdrive bonus HP reduced to 50 / Removed Gamma Overdrive The new update will bring lots of new content, including new Team-Up abilities, a new hero, UI changes, and more. Furthermore, NetEase will release another event and a limited-time game mode. Marvel Rivals Platform(s): macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X Genre(s): Fighting, Shooter Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

After being live for a year and two months, Warzone Mobile, which was made to bring the Warzone experience to mobile, has been dropped by Activision. This might be because it's struggling to make enough money in the competitive but lucrative market, especially compared to its sister app, Call of Duty Mobile.For background, a week ago, Activision announced that they were going to stop delivering new seasonal content and gameplay updates for Warzone Mobile, disabling real money spending in the game. Last Sunday, May 18, was the last day that players could download the game from both Google Play and App Store; it was also when all the social features went "retired." In other words, players who have the game installed can still access and play it, but they will not receive new updates.ActivisionThe reason, according to the developers, is that "it unfortunately has not met our expectations with mobile-first players like it has with PC and console audiences." Digging deeper into this statement, The Game Business revealed that "its numbers pale in comparison to its more established competitors," and this can be seen from two aspects: active users and revenue generated. For active players count, App Magic data shows that Warzone had three million in April, which is far less than PUBG Mobile, which had 50 million users, and Garena's Free Fire had nearly 60 million. Blood Strike, a battle royale game from NetEase released in 2023, saw seven million players, which is more than double that of Warzone. As free-to-play games, a smaller player base may lead to comparatively low revenue. In the fourteen months since its launch, Warzone has reportedly generated $17 million (excluding the 30% cut taken by Google and Apple). This is lower than what Call of Duty Mobile generated just last month alone. That is to say, "It struggled to crack the lucrative mobile battle royale market."Although the decision to wind down support for Warzone Mobile was only announced recently, there was a sign as early as last year when Microsoft laid off 650 employees, some of whom were from the project. But this unfruitful experience, which is Activision's attempt "to establish itself in the huge battle royale mobile market," probably would not change Microsoft's "determination to grow in mobile," because the company sees great potential in mobile gaming in regions where console and PC gaming still have a large space to grow. Also let's not forget, a reason why Microsoft acquired Activision is, according to Phil Spencer, "a capability on mobile."Join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Marvel Rivals players are always having fun in the chaotic 6v6 matches across vivid battlefields with their favorite heroes; however, they also quite frequently offer suggestions or present absurd demands in front of the devs to change certain features. From the infamous mid-season rank reset drama during Season 1.5 to nerfing overpowered heroes, NetEase is quick to respond to fan requests and keep the game alive with constant changes. One such demand that fans have been quite vocal about is the usage of Lord Icons in the Hero Selection screen as well, which helps them select the hero they’re most proficient with. Lord Icons are a status symbol for many in Rivals, where players showboat their proficiency with a hero they have mastered in the game. While NetEase hadn’t answered to the said demand in the past, with the latest Dev Vision Vol. 06, it has been announced that such a feature is finally arriving in Season 2.5 alongside much more exciting content. Marvel Rivals is finally adding Lord Icons to Hero Selection Wheel in Season 2.5 Lord Icons will now be visible in Hero Selection wheel. Image by VideoGamer. Add a fun mood to your nameplate. Image by VideoGamer. Taunt an enemy with an Emoji on the battlefield. Image by VideoGamer. Previous Next 1 of 3 Previous Next Marvel Rivals devs have announced that starting from Season 2.5, which releases on May 30, 2025, players will be able to use their Lord Icons on the hero selection wheel so they can choose their most proficient hero before the round begins. Other than that, your teammates will also continue to see your Lord Icon on the pre-game lobby as well as in-game, just like your enemies will. But that’s not all, while text chat, emotes, and sprays are some of the interactable elements that keep battles light-hearted and funny, Rivalsd is also bringing Mood Icons and Emojis for players to customize their nameplate based on their current mood. You can also use these emojis during an ongoing match to taunt your enemies or even your teammates, adding an element of fun and communication rather than just typing absurd words in text chat. Furthermore, the new mid-season update will also bring new nerfs and buffs to the hero roster, so make sure to check those out ahead of Season 2.5. Marvel Rivals Platform(s): macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X Genre(s): Fighting, Shooter Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Marvel Rivals doesn’t only feature its core 6v6 hero shooter gameplay; rather, the game consists of different modes to cater to each player and their playstyle. While some like the stacked action that ranked lobbies bring in Competitive, others like to grind on missions and play arcade modes like Conquest or Doom Match to level up faster. However, each new season, NetEase introduces a new limited-time mode that gives players a break from the overall action and gives them a fresh perspective to utilize their favorite heroes. Modes like Clash of Dancing Lions allow you to play soccer with heroes like Star-Lord, while Giant-Size Brain Blast allows you to turn any of the heroes in the roster into an easy headshot target with a huge head. Once again, Rivals devs are bringing in a new limited-time mode called Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol with the Season 2.5 release, which is a unique fantasy team experience where you can create your own team and send them into battle. Marvel Rivals’ new mode allows you to create your own fantasy team of superheroes Marvel Rivals released their latest episode of Dev Vision Vol. 06, where the devs discussed new content arriving in the Season 2.5 update, arriving on May 30, 2025. In the video, apart from the new Team-Ups and changes, devs also showcased a new Limited-Time experimental mode called Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol which will release on June 6 and will offer a fantasy team style experience where you can create your own team of six superheroes and send them into battle, along with modifying their stats. Make your own Rivals team with six heroes of your choice. Image by VideoGamer. Purchase power ups for your heroes to perform better. Image by VideoGamer. Arrange your heroes in the formation you want them to attack from. Image by VideoGamer, You can amplify your hero’s abilities to overpower enemy team. Image by VideoGamer. Previous Next 1 of 4 Previous Next If you’re still trying to wrap your head around it, think of it like Football Manager but with superheroes. You’ll begin each round by creating your team of six superheroes and battling against five other players with their own unique team composition. Once you’ve made your selection, you’ll be loaded into the Card Shop menu from where you’ll be able to craft unique builds and enhance hero traits. Then create a formation of your team and set the heroes in frontline, midline, and backline positions in a 4×5 grid format. Once you’ve set your heroes in a lineup, then play as Ultron and assist your team to defeat enemies by constantly enhancing their powers and introducing new cards into play. You can turn Venom into a Kaiju Monster, make Hela throw her daggers all around the map, demand Psylocke to affect a larger area, or even summon multiple Monstro Spawn as Namor. You can play multiple rounds and win after you’ve gathered the most victories against enemies. While you’re checking out Season 2.5 content in Marvel Rivals, do check out all the hero nerfs and buffs that will affect the meta drastically when the update is out. Marvel Rivals Platform(s): macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X Genre(s): Fighting, Shooter Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

NetEase games segment revenue grows 12.1% to $3.3bn in Q1 Firm attributed rise to success of its online games including the successful launch of Where Winds Meet last December Image credit: Everstone Studio/NetEase News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on May 22, 2025 NetEase has published its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, reporting a 12.1% rise in its gaming sector to RMB 24 billion ($3.3 billion). Overall revenue for the firm increased 7.4% year-on-year to RMB 28.8 billion ($4 billion), while profit grew by 8.6% year-on-year to RMB 18.5 billion ($2.5 billion). The Chinese games firm attributed the increase for its gaming segment to online games, which represented approximately 97.5% of revenue compared to 95.2% to the same period last year. It highlighted the success of Everstone Studio's Where Winds Meet following its launch last December. The game has since surpassed 30 million players as of March 2025. It also noted the continued popularity of Identity 5 and Marvel Rivals, as well as the successful launch of Once Human on mobile. "We entered 2025 with solid momentum, fueled by our ongoing innovation and new titles that strengthen our reach across genres and resonate with players around the world," said NetEase CEO William Ding. "In addition to the strong performance of our latest games, our long-standing franchises continue to thrive, powered by outstanding content updates and continuous gameplay enhancements that bring fresh takes to player experiences. Ding added: "As we reimagine new gaming possibilities, we remain rooted in innovation and long-term operations, partnering with top talent and strategic collaborators to deliver engaging experiences to players everywhere."

NetEase reveals new closed beta gameplay for the upcoming mobile title Destiny: Rising.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Marvel Rivals Season 2 is going strong with the ongoing Hellfire Gala Moments event, and the mid-season update is closer than ever. NetEase has set up the perfect stage, just in time for the arrival of the next hero, Ultron, and the new map Arrako, coming soon to Rivals. While there’s still heated debate about the Chrono Shield Cards and their use, devs have assured that they are not pay-to-win. Furthermore, new heroes have also been leaked to arrive in future updates that will bring new content. But right before Ultron arrives, NetEase has released another patch, which will release on May 22, and is bringing some crucial changes and fixes to the overall Rivals experience. Marvel Rivals Version 20250522 Full Patch Notes Two much-awaited skins are releasing with the new update. Image by VideoGamer. New In Store Scarlet Witch – Immortal Sovereign Bundle Adam Warlock – Immortal Avatar Bundle Store Launch Time: 2025/5/23, at 02:00:00 (UTC). Hellfire Gala: Moments The event has been extended by one week! The new end time is 2025/5/30 at 09:00:00 (UTC). New Features We’ve streamlined the store layout: the first two pages are now dedicated to New Arrivals and Recommended. A “Use Default Costume Voices” option has been added under Settings – Audio. Players can now have up to 5 sprays at once on the battlefield. Fixes – All Platforms System & Features Fixed an issue where, after signing up for a tournament, selecting Details would redirect to the wrong page. Fixed an issue where One Above All players could sometimes be reset to Eternity rank upon login. Fixed a bug causing the mouse icon to disappear after switching heroes in settings with raw mouse input enabled. Fixed an issue where the coach’s spectator view could sometimes freeze after pausing and resuming in custom tournament rooms.  Maps and Modes Addressed structural issues in the Klyntar and Spider-Islands maps. Heroes Doctor Strange’s Astral Shenanigans: Fixed a peculiar problem where souls from the Sorcerer Supreme’s Ultimate Ability could sometimes meddle with Human Torch’s Primary Attack. Now, Johnny Storm can flame on without any mystical interference. Mantis’ Sedate Slipup: Fix a rare error where, when Mantis worked her Spore Slumber, some heroes wouldn’t wake up after taking a hit. Now, after a quick snooze (and a smack), everyone’s back in the action, just like Star-Lord after his morning coffee. Emma Frost’s Diamond Dilemma: Sometimes, when Emma switched to her diamond form, textures from her own perspective would glitch out. She’s now flawless, both inside and out! Mister Fantastic’s Portal Puzzler: When Reed tried to stretch his way after a target through a Doctor Strange portal with Flexible Elongation, he’d sometimes veer off in the wrong direction and would go through at all! Now, Mister Fantastic can twist, turn, and traverse the multiverse with the precision of a true Illuminati member. Fixes – Console Fixed overlapping UI icons between Chrono Shields/Chrono Shield Cards and Controller icons in the console mode selection screen. The Marvel Rivals universe is ever-evolving, and we have plenty more surprises and updates on the horizon. Stay tuned to our official announcements for more! Marvel Rivals Platform(s): macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X Genre(s): Fighting, Shooter Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share