NetEase announced major news for Marvel Rivals during its latest developer diary, confirming that Season 9.5 launches on August 7 across all platforms, adding a new Vanguard hero called The Hood alongside a major texture compression overhaul designed to significantly reduce the game’s overall install size once the update settles in. According to the developers, the patch is expected to trim roughly 40GB on PC and about 15GB on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox, though the initial Season 9.5 download itself will be larger than usual because the game’s assets are being repackaged as part of the process, a temporary trade off players will likely accept given the storage savings that follow.
The update also introduces a substantial wave of new content tied to the midseason rollout. The Hood brings a dual state kit to the roster, fighting with twin pistols and a mystical cloak that supports allies in his normal form, while his demon state transforms him into a heavier damage dealer wielding demonic rifles and piercing rounds capable of punching through shields and enemies alike. Described by the developers as a character who shifts between a mortal mobster and a demonic powerhouse, The Hood is positioned to give Season 9.5 a new frontline option that blends offensive capability with team utility, a combination that has proven popular with several of the game’s more recent hero additions.
On the narrative side, the season continues the ongoing storyline involving The Hood, the Tablet of Death and Entropy, and the continuing fallout from Apocalypse’s actions earlier in the game’s story. The heroes have already captured The Hood, who has since volunteered to reveal more information about the tablet, while Moon Knight hears the voices of the dead and learns that a larger mastermind remains active behind the scenes, setting up further narrative developments in seasons to come.
Beyond the headline hero and storage improvements, Season 9.5 is adding new Sunu special costumes and cosmetics following an August 13 update, while the Guardians of Mischief are receiving a flare upgrade and Lady Loki will gain toggleable movement and ability animations that can be adjusted directly from the costume menu. The popular Croco and Rios event is also returning for its second volume as part of the same update. The midseason patch follows a recent addition to the game’s cosmetic lineup, with two costumes based on the Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie, covering both Peter Parker and Hulk, available individually for 1,600 units, or $15.99, or as a bundle for 2,200 units, or $21.99, reflecting the steady cadence of licensed crossover content NetEase has continued to add to Marvel Rivals since its original launch.
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