If you’re scouring the internet trying to figure out when does marvel rivals come out on ps5, I have some news that’s going to make your day. You can stop checking countdown timers. The wait is actually over.
NetEase officially launched Marvel Rivals on the PlayStation 5 on December 6, 2024.
I know, there’s been a ton of noise online about betas, closed alphas, and playtests that made the timeline feel super muddy. But as of right now—January 2026—the game is fully live, free-to-play, and currently deep into its sixth season of content. If you have a PS5 sitting in your living room, you can head to the PlayStation Store this second and start downloading it.
The Launch Timeline: How We Got Here
It’s honestly been a wild ride since the game was first teased. For a long time, console players were left in the dark while PC players got to mess around in the closed alpha back in May 2024. Then came the July 2024 beta which finally gave us a taste of how the 6v6 chaos felt on a DualSense controller.
The official global release happened on December 6, 2024. It launched simultaneously for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Interestingly, while the "next-gen" consoles got it first, NetEase eventually rolled out a PS4 version much later, on September 12, 2025.
Basically, if you’re on PlayStation 5, you’ve had the "premium" version of the game for over a year now.
Why the confusion about the release date?
Gaming schedules are messy. Most people probably saw clips of the "Season 0" launch (called Doom's Rise) and thought it was still a beta. Then Season 1, Eternal Night Falls, dropped in January 2025, introducing the Fantastic Four.
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Because the game follows a live-service model, every few months feels like a "re-launch" with huge batches of new heroes. If you saw a headline recently about a "January 16 release," that wasn't the game itself—that was the start of Season 6: Night at the Museum, which just added Deadpool and Elsa Bloodstone to the roster yesterday.
What You Get on PS5 (And PS5 Pro)
Playing on Sony’s hardware actually comes with some specific perks that the PC crowd doesn't get. NetEase worked pretty closely with Sony to make sure the game felt "native."
- Haptic Feedback: You actually feel the tension in Hawkeye’s bow or the "thud" of Hulk’s landing through the DualSense.
- Performance Modes: On a standard PS5, you’re looking at a stable 60 FPS at 1440p. If you have a high-refresh-rate monitor, there's a 120 FPS mode that drops the resolution a bit but makes the movement feel like butter.
- PS5 Pro Enhancements: For those who upgraded to the Pro, there’s a specific "Pro Mode." It uses PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) to hit a crisp 4K while maintaining that 60 FPS target, plus it adds better lighting via Lumen Reflections.
There's even an exclusive skin. If you play on PS5, you can snag the "Scarlet Spider" outfit for Peter Parker. It's a nice little "thank you" for the console base.
Marvel Rivals PS5: Season 6 Is Live Right Now
Since you're looking to jump in, you should know that the game is currently in one of its biggest updates yet. Season 6 kicked off on January 16, 2026.
The theme is "Night at the Museum," and it's centered around The Collector. The big draw? Deadpool is finally a playable hero. People have been screaming for him since the original announcement, and he’s finally here with a kit that lets him switch between different playstyles. Elsa Bloodstone also joined the fray, giving the roster a much-needed monster-hunter vibe.
One thing that's actually a huge relief in this latest update is the file size. For a while, Marvel Rivals was bloating like crazy—hitting over 120 GB on some systems. The Season 6 patch actually shrunk the game by about 17%, bringing it back down to a more manageable 90ish GB. Your SSD will thank you.
Common Misconceptions About the PS5 Version
I see the same three questions constantly, so let's clear them up.
Is it really free? Yes. Not "free to start" or "free with a catch." Every single hero is unlocked for everyone. You don't have to grind for 40 hours to play as Iron Man or Magneto. You pay for cosmetics, not power.
Do I need PlayStation Plus? Nope. Since it's a free-to-play title, Sony doesn't require a PS Plus subscription for the online multiplayer. However, if you do have PS Plus, there’s usually a monthly bundle in the store with free sprays or low-tier skins.
Is there cross-progression? This is the one "downer." As of early 2026, cross-progression is still a work in progress. If you start on PS5 and later decide to move to PC, your skins and rank won't follow you yet. NetEase says they're working on it, but we don't have a hard date. Cross-play, however, works fine—you can play with your friends on Xbox or Steam right now.
How to Get Started Today
If you’ve been waiting for when does marvel rivals come out on ps5, the answer is: it's waiting for you.
- Open the PlayStation Store on your console.
- Search for Marvel Rivals.
- Hit Download (it's roughly 91 GB as of the latest patch).
- Jump into the Practice Range first—the movement in this game is much faster than Overwatch, and you’ll want to get used to the verticality before hitting Ranked.
Don't forget to check the "Events" tab once you're in. Since Season 6 just started, there are a ton of easy challenges to unlock Deadpool-themed items and unit currency. Honestly, the game is in the best state it’s ever been in, so it’s a perfect time to dive in.
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Go grab that Scarlet Spider skin and start climbing the ranks.