Friendly Marvel Rivals Meet-Ups Inspire New Non-Combat Map
Marvel Rivals introduces its first peaceful map — a bustling Times Square setting where up to 100 players can gather, dance, and toss beachballs instead of battling. This new social space draws inspiration from the unexpected parties that fans have been holding in Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum.
“According to publishers Netease, a lot of you have been hosting impromptu mixers in the Sanctum Sanctorum when you really ought to be murdering each other dead.”
The Sanctum, described as a grand wizard’s mansion filled with curious relics and books, has become an unlikely venue for player meet-ups. These spontaneous gatherings turned the sorcerer’s lair into a light-hearted hangout rather than a battlefield, catching Netease’s attention.
In response, Netease is launching a full-scale non-combat map set in the heart of New York’s Times Square. Here, players can interact freely without the usual chaos of combat — a community-driven feature framed as both a nod to fans and a clever expansion of gameplay variety.
“They don’t call it a ‘Doom Match’ because it’s about speed-dating with your mortal adversaries, lads.”
The developers, while hinting that the project may have been in the works for some time, embraced the opportunity to turn fan enthusiasm into a formal in-game experience. This move demonstrates how spontaneous player creativity can shape official content.
Author’s Summary
Netease transforms Marvel Rivals’ player-driven Sanctum gatherings into a new Times Square non-combat map, letting up to 100 fans socialize in a lively, battle-free Marvel universe.