NetEase Games has committed to introducing at least one new hero to Marvel Rivals every half-season, but that hasn't stopped a creative player from conceptualizing a playable Doctor Octopus. Reddit user WickedCube recently shared a 30-second video on r/MarvelRivals, showcasing what appears to be early gameplay footage from NetEase's popular hero shooter. At first glance, the video seems to feature a pre-Hulk Bruce Banner suspended in midair within a testing room, but a closer look reveals an eight-armed version of the gamma-infused doctor, resembling an unrefined, Marvel Rivals-inspired Doctor Octopus from the Spider-Man universe.

We need more vanguards, so i made one (Doctor Octopus)
byu/Wickedcube inmarvelrivals

Though the footage appears stiff and somewhat comical, the resemblance to Doctor Octopus is undeniable. With a bit of imagination, you can envision how Doc Ock might function in Marvel Rivals, with WickedCube's concept allowing the character to "fly" by magnetizing his arms to nearby structures—an essential feature in a game with destructible environments. The concept even includes named abilities like Havoc Claw for melee attacks and Wrecking Grip for ranged maneuvers. With over 16,000 upvotes at the time of publication, this fan-made creation is both impressive and playable, crafted entirely by one person.

WickedCube, who drew inspiration from Doc Ock's unique tentacles, said, "Doc Ock has always been one of the coolest villains in Spider-Man, and his tentacles would be a challenge to implement. As far as I know, they haven't been fully implemented with playable 3D movement in a game before." The idea to create this character stemmed from WickedCube's inability to play during a recent PSN outage. "It all started when PSN was down and I couldn’t play Marvel Rivals," he explained. "While browsing Twitter, I came across some really cool Doc Ock fan art. I thought, ‘Since I can't play right now, why not make it myself?’"

Doctor Octopus in the style of Marvel Rivals
.#MarvelRivals #MarvelRivalsfanart pic.twitter.com/d3XHXMZsCL

— CoryHarris.jpg (@LordDepis) January 26, 2025

The response to WickedCube's creation has been overwhelmingly positive, with thousands of players expressing their appreciation and some even urging NetEase to consider adding Doctor Octopus to the game. WickedCube finds the reception "incredibly rewarding" and would welcome NetEase adopting his ideas should Doc Ock officially join Marvel Rivals. Although he has no plans to further refine the design, he aims to release a playable version of the character soon and share his process through a YouTube tutorial series. Additionally, he plans to open-source the code on GitHub and make the playable versions available on Itch.

As NetEase continues its Marvel Rivals post-launch plans, two new official characters, the Human Torch and The Thing, are set to join the roster this Friday, following their Fantastic Four teammates, Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, who were introduced last month. This rapid expansion of the character lineup showcases the game's strong start and hints at the vast potential within Marvel's universe of heroes and villains.

WickedCube's project was inspired by the community's desire for more Vanguard or tank-like characters. While there's no solid indication that Doctor Octopus will appear in the game soon, WickedCube is already brainstorming concepts for other heroes, including Nightcrawler and Professor Xavier from the X-Men.

Marvel Rivals is set to roll out its Season 1 mid-season update on February 21, which will introduce balance changes, gameplay tweaks, and more, in addition to the new characters. As we await these updates, you can stay informed about recent layoffs at NetEase's Seattle branch and the studio's stance on rumors regarding planted hero leaks.