While NetEase Games has committed to releasing a new Marvel Rivals hero every half-season, one creative fan took matters into his own hands by developing a playable Doctor Octopus concept.
Reddit user WickedCube recently shared a 30-second video on the r/MarvelRivals subreddit, showcasing prototype gameplay footage from the popular hero shooter. The clip features a pre-Hulk Bruce Banner floating in a testing environment, but Marvel enthusiasts quickly identified the eight-armed, gamma-infused scientist as a rough interpretation of classic Spider-Man antagonist Doctor Octopus.
We need more vanguards, so i made one (Doctor Octopus)
byu/Wickedcube inmarvelrivals
Though slightly rigid and whimsical in execution, the character's resemblance is undeniable. With closer inspection, viewers can appreciate the well-developed concept for how Doc Ock might move and function if NetEase ever introduces Otto Octavius to Marvel Rivals. The mechanical arms enable magnetic traversal across obstacles, essentially granting flight capabilities when near stable structures—a crucial consideration in a game with destructible environments. This early concept includes named abilities like Havoc Claw for melee attacks and Wrecking Grip for ranged combat. Garnering 16,000 upvotes, this impressive, fully playable prototype was built entirely by a single developer.
"Doctor Octopus has always stood out as one of Spider-Man's most compelling villains, and implementing his tentacles presented a significant technical challenge," WickedCube explained regarding his inspiration. "To my knowledge, no game has successfully created fully playable 3D movement with this type of mechanics."
The India-based indie developer previously worked with Keen Software House, the studio behind Space Engineers, before leaving in January 2024 to focus on personal projects. While currently seeking contract work and prototyping game mechanics, character development isn't typically his main focus. Building a controllable Doctor Octopus in Unity presented several obstacles, but this complexity ultimately motivated WickedCube to pursue the concept. The final impetus came from an unexpected circumstance: the recent PSN service disruption.
"This project began when PSN was unavailable, preventing me from playing Marvel Rivals," WickedCube recalled. "While browsing Twitter, I discovered some exceptional Doctor Octopus fan art. That's when I decided, 'If I can't play right now, why not create something myself?'"
Doctor Octopus in the style of Marvel Rivals
— CoryHarris.jpg (@LordDepis) January 26, 2025
.#MarvelRivals #MarvelRivalsfanart pic.twitter.com/d3XHXMZsCL
The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, with thousands of players applauding his Doc Ock interpretation and even requesting NetEase consider him for their development team. WickedCube describes the reception as "incredibly rewarding" and expresses enthusiasm should the Marvel Rivals studio incorporate any of his ideas into an official character release. Although he doesn't plan to refine the design further, he aims to release a playable version in the near future.
"Given the Reddit community's reaction, I want to share this and future concepts through a YouTube tutorial series," WickedCube added. "I also intend to open-source the code on GitHub and publish playable builds on Itch.io."
NetEase continues advancing its Marvel Rivals post-launch roadmap with two new official characters launching this Friday: Human Torch and The Thing. These additions follow their Fantastic Four teammates, Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman, who debuted last month. While the game's strong start outshines competitors, comic book fans recognize the nearly limitless potential of Marvel's extensive hero and villain catalog.
WickedCube noted his viral project emerged from community demand for more Vanguard-style tank characters. Although no rumors suggest Otto Octavius will appear in-game soon, the designer reveals he's already brainstorming concepts for other potential heroes, including X-Men staples Nightcrawler and Professor Xavier.
"The initial character roster provides substantial longevity, and the promised rate of new character releases is remarkable," he observed. "The design team clearly understands how to create engaging gameplay, which is arguably the most difficult aspect to perfect."
Marvel Rivals prepares to launch its Season 1 mid-season update tomorrow, February 21. Beyond the new character introductions, the update will deliver balance adjustments, gameplay refinements, and additional content. As we await the release, you can explore recent reports about layoffs affecting NetEase's U.S. team in Seattle and discover why the studio dismisses rumors regarding planted hero leaks.
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