Marvel Rivals fans were pleased to see that NetEase is going all out to make Season 9 special for the community, as it’s poised to be jam-packed with content. A new map based on Apocalypse’s empire will be released a few weeks after the Season begins, with Strategist Jubilee coming on day one and (assumed) Vanguard The Hood coming midseason. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, as new mechanics like health regen are being introduced, the team-up system is being overhauled, and Black Widow’s long overdue rework will make her play more like Ashe from Overwatch. However, that isn’t the only similarity Season 9’s content has to the biggest name in the hero shooter genre, as one battle pass skin looks eerily familiar.
Marvel Rivals’ latest battle pass is packed with Egyptian skins, coinciding with the season’s map and the involvement of En Sabah Nur. Deadpool gets a fun mummy skin, while Mantis and Rocket both don some fitting jewelry and outfits. Iron Man looks particularly cool as a metallic golden pharaoh as well. Not every skin in the pass sticks to the theme, though; for instance, there’s a cool plant-based Venom look with a face that resembles Stranger Things’ Demogorgon more than anything typically associated with Egypt. Yet it’s ultimately Ultron that has stolen the show with his Ultron-15 skin, a design that puts the machine in a cowboy-like outfit with a hat and duster. And at a glance, this design looks just like Overwatch’s most anticipated 2026 hero.
Overwatch’s Mysterious Omnic Support Has Had Players Talking For Months
When Overwatch revealed the silhouettes for its 2026 heroes, a few things immediately jumped out at players. First, players were excited that another MEKA Squad member would be joining the Tank roster, with D.Mon seemingly poised to be added in Season 4. Secondly, fans fell in love with just the outline of the Season 5 (or 6) Support hero, as it seemingly depicts an Omnic detective with a cane, hat, and jacket. Depicted behind the hero that ended up being Sierra, this character instantly stands out from those around them. Overwatch fans are always calling for more Omnic characters to be added, too, so the idea of one with such a distinct aesthetic really is icing on the cake.
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Sure, there’s a chance this hero is nothing like what players are expecting; many are likely picturing something akin to Fallout 4’s Nick Valentine, but there’s no telling what personality this sentient robot will have. Silhouettes can’t tell the whole story; Overwatch’s Shion had one of the blandest silhouettes of the 2026 group, after all, yet her character design is utterly brilliant and fans have quickly fallen in love with the character. Regardless of how the hero turns out, players are excited about him, drawing up concepts for this Omnic and regularly sharing how they can’t wait until the end of the year to see him in action. Marvel Rivals throwing its resident robot character in a flashy hat and coat, then, almost feels like a case of NetEase seeing that hype and giving fans of its competition a similar-looking cosmetic to use way sooner.
Marvel Rivals’ New Ultron Skin Isn’t an Original Idea Like Overwatch’s Upcoming Omnic
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Image via NetEase -
image via Marvel -
image via Marvel
However, while it’s certainly possible that Ultron-15 is being added because of Overwatch’s mystery Omnic being so anticipated, this skin was likely always going to end up in Marvel Rivals at some point. After all, it’s one of Ultron’s more memorable comic book designs, with it being as interesting as it is strange. Introduced as part of the Ultron Unlimited arc, this version of the character suffers from human emotions, which he numbs with alcohol. And while creator Hank Pym could be pointed to as the reason for this specific Ultron version becoming more human, doing do suggests that the genius scientist went through a cowboy/detective fashion phase, as the drunk and mentally broken Ultron-15 is also dressed like he belongs in the wild west.
Ultimately, though Ultron-15 coming to a Marvel Rivals battle pass or the in-game store was inevitable because the look is so distinct, the timing is definitely advantageous for NetEase. If Overwatch’s Support players are getting tired of waiting for a new hero in their role of choice — they’ll be enduring the rest of Season 3 and the entirety of Season 4 before a Support debuts — Ultron getting a skin resembling their most anticipated Overwatch hero could be just the incentive they need to swap games for a bit. And if they do, Season 9’s plethora of content could get them hooked, helping the Marvel Rivals community grow even larger.
- Released
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December 6, 2024
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
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NetEase Games
- Publisher(s)
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NetEase Games