Highlights
- Marvel Rivals teases a potential Wakanda map, adding to the anticipation for fans of Black Panther’s iconic location.
- The Wakanda map could offer unique gameplay mechanics, similar to Overwatch 2’s Numbani, in Marvel Rivals.
- By showcasing both Wakanda’s real and facade aesthetic, the map could add depth and flavor to Marvel Rivals.
As more info is revealed about the upcoming hero-shooter Marvel Rivals, players are starting to get a better idea of what the game will look like and how it will play. The latest update for Marvel Rivals showcased the map Yggsgard, a map that combines Asgard and Yggdrasil and was created by a Timestream Entanglement caused by Loki. While there is still a lot left unrevealed about the game, it seems obvious based on what little has been shown about Marvel Rivals so far that one notable Marvel location is due for a map in the game.
Aside from the recent Yggsgard map reveal, fans can expect Tokyo 2099 to appear as a map in Marvel Rivals as well. While the inclusion of this map might hint towards a future playable character in Spider-Man 2099, one character already confirmed on the roster could point to another location likely to appear as a map. Given that Black Panther has already been featured in Marvel Rivals‘ promotional artwork, it’s more than likely that a Wakanda map isn’t far behind, and the location already has the perfect inspiration for its design.
Marvel Rivals’ Entire Roster Explained
Just announced, Marvel Rivals is an upcoming 6v6 hero shooter in the vein of Overwatch, and it’s got quite a packed roster right out of the gate.
A Wakanda Map is Likely for Marvel Rivals
Out of all the locations in the Marvel universe that could be turned into a map for Marvel Rivals, Wakanda holds some of the greatest potential for a map with interesting gameplay mechanics. Fans of Black Panther are likely already familiar with Wakanda, a fictional African country within the Marvel universe that boasts some of the greatest technological advancements on Earth thanks to its supply of Vibranium. With Wakanda hiding its deposits of Vibranium from the rest of the world, the disparity between the real, futuristic aesthetic of Wakanda and the facade it shows the rest of the world could make for a unique map design.
Not only would a Wakanda map work well within the context of Marvel Rivals, it already has the perfect inspiration in Overwatch 2‘s Numbani map. In Overwatch 2, Numbani is a utopian African city where both humans and omnics are able to live peacefully together, mirroring the futuristic utopia of Wakanda in the Marvel universe. With Marvel Rivals drawing clear inspiration from Overwatch 2, it would make sense for a Wakanda map to follow a similar formula to Overwatch 2‘s Numbani, but with its own unique twist.
What a Wakanda Map Could Look Like in Marvel Rivals
Since Wakanda is an entire country within the Marvel universe, a Marvel Rivals map based on it would probably have to narrow its scope to one section of the country. This makes the capital city of Birnin Zana the most likely candidate for a specific Wakanda map in Marvel Rivals. Similar to Numbani in Overwatch 2, a Wakanda map in Marvel Rivals could have players move throughout the streets of Birnin Zana guarding a payload such as a shipment of Vibranium or even the Mind Stone within Vision from the MCU’s Avengers: Infinity War, similar to Overwatch 2‘s Escort mode.
One way Wakanda could differentiate itself from Overwatch 2‘s Numbani map is by having part of the map take place outside the barrier hiding Wakanda’s true form and allowing players to cross the barrier into Birnin Zana proper. This design would allow the map to start off in a rural, African savanna setting before taking players through the barrier into the futuristic utopia of Birnin Zana. Much like how Marvel Rivals‘ Yggsgard map combines elements of Asgard and Yggdrasil, having a Wakanda map showcase the two sides of the country would be a great way to give the game more flavor while paying homage to such an iconic location.
Marvel Rivals
- Franchise
- Marvel
- Developer(s)
- NetEase Games
- Publisher(s)
- NetEase Games
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer , Online Co-Op
- Engine
- Unreal Engine