Hey everyone! It's 2026, and NetEase is kicking off the new year with a bang for Marvel Rivals! 🎉 Honestly, I just logged in and was greeted with this fresh update, and let me tell you, it's got some seriously cool stuff. If you've been taking a break or feel like you're behind on the Season 5 battle pass, this is literally the perfect time to jump back in. The new season is coming on January 16th, 2026, so there's still a window to grind and unlock some awesome rewards before we dive into all the Deadpool and Elsa Bloodstone hype for Season 6! NetEase is calling 2025 just a 'warm-up'—apparently, 2026 is when the real big plans for Marvel Rivals kick off. I'm already hyped! 🚀
What's New in the January 1st, 2026 Update?
First up, let's talk cosmetics, because who doesn't love a new skin? Starting January 2nd, we're getting the Lady Loki cosmetic skin! 🎭 It's available until the end of the month, so you have some time to decide if you want to add that glorious variant to your collection. Alongside it, there's a Lady Loki emoji bundle in the in-game store. Oh, and for all you Human Torch mains out there, there's also a Jack of Hearts bundle that totally fits this season's Gambit theme. Fancy! 🔥
But wait, there's more! For those who missed out on the First Anniversary bundles (I know I almost did for Psylocke and Luna Snow), here's some great news: The Luna Snow Cherry Delight bundle and the Van Dyne's Grand Opening event have been extended until January 16th, 2026! 🍒 That means extra time to grab those unique skins. No word on if they'll vanish after that date, so if you want 'em, better act fast!
The Lifesaver: Chrono-Rush Event 🕒⚡
Okay, this might be the MVP of the update for a lot of us. From January 1st to the 16th, we have the Chrono-Rush event! This is basically a catch-up mechanic for anyone (like me, sometimes) who's lagging behind on their Seasonal Battle Pass progress. How does it work? Simple: play matches, earn extra Chrono Tokens. And the best part? There's no upper limit! 🎮 The more you play, the more you earn. It's a fantastic way to unlock more pages and content from the current Battle Pass before Season 6 starts.
As the season wraps up, the devs said: "We're launching the Chrono-Rush event to help everyone catch up! Play more, earn more!" Plus, the final page of the Luxury Battle Pass now lets you exchange Chrono Tokens for Accessory Points. Smart move!
Event Details:
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Duration: Jan 1, 2026, 09:00 UTC to Jan 16, 2026, 09:00 UTC
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Goal: Earn unlimited extra Chrono Tokens by playing PvP matches.
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Benefit: Rapidly complete your Season 5 Battle Pass tiers.
Bug Fixes & Gameplay Tweaks 🛠️
No update is complete without some necessary fixes, and this one has a few important ones that smooth out the experience.
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Times Square Social Hub: Fixed those weird, glitchy countdowns that would sometimes pop up. Time is now flowing correctly in NYC! ⏰
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Traversal Emotes: All traversal emotes now only move forward. You can't manipulate their direction with the camera anymore—you change your facing by adjusting the camera itself. It standardizes the movement, which is probably for the best.
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Star-Lord's Emote: His 'Wooden Whizbang' traversal emote has been optimized. No more awkward moonwalking—movement is now much smoother! 🕺
Character-Specific Fixes & Balance ⚖️
Three heroes got some specific attention in this patch to fix some quirky bugs:
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Angela: Her Assassin's Charge had a tiny, rare chance to yeet carried targets into what the notes call "abnormal locations." 😅 Now, her flights are guaranteed to land safely at the intended destination. No more accidental teleportation!
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Rogue: There was an issue where using her Ultimate on Winter Soldier during his AGAIN super chain could cause "abnormal" Ultimate energy. That's been fixed, so her power absorption is now precise and predictable. 💪
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Emma Frost: If she was wearing the Hellfire Protocol costume, her Psychic Spear ability was apparently WAY too loud for the players getting hit by it. That audio issue has been resolved. Her psychic assaults are now subtly terrifying, not ear-shatteringly loud. 🧠
New Animations & Final Thoughts 🎬
The update also added new animations for a bunch of characters! The list includes:
Star-Lord, Scarlet Witch, Namor, Adam Warlock, Wolverine, Blade, The Thing, Iron Fist, and Black Widow.
These become available from January 2nd, 2026. Fresh moves always make gameplay feel more dynamic!
Overall, this New Year's update for Marvel Rivals is a solid, player-friendly patch. It's not about adding new modes or heroes, but about polishing the experience, giving players a chance to catch up, and dropping some sweet limited-time cosmetics. With Season 6 and its new characters just around the corner, this is the perfect moment to get back into the fray, grind those Chrono Tokens, and finish off Season 5 strong. What are you waiting for? See you in the battle! ✨