Marvel Rivals Addresses Criticism Over Swimsuit Skins

Marvel Rivals Summer Special Event (Credit: Netease)

Marvel Rivals has found itself at the center of online discussions following the launch of its Summer Party Swimsuit Event. The seasonal update brought a collection of swimwear-inspired character skins that have sparked heated debates across gaming communities, with some players labeling the title as a "gooner game" due to what they perceive as overly sexualized content.

Game director Guangyun "Guangguang" Chen recently sat down with Rivals Assembled to tackle these criticisms head-on. Rather than shying away from the controversy, Chen offered a detailed explanation of the design philosophy behind these contentious skins. He emphasized that the team's creative decisions aren't made in a vacuum but draw heavily from Marvel's extensive comic book legacy.

“Our design is inspired by classic comic themes, including some very outstanding skins like Mantis and Psylocke’s Vengeance,” Chen said. “These all come from classic comic designs, and we create more fashionable versions to gain players’ appreciation.”

Chen further clarified that certain costumes, such as Squirrel Girl’s and the Krakoa Resort skins, were created with both the in-game seasonal storyline and real-world fashion influences in mind. “We try our best to integrate the storylines from the season and blend popular elements from real life,” he noted, adding that the designs have been well-received by the "majority of players."

Due to their popularity, Netease has even announced a one-week extension of the event, which will now run until August 22, 2025, at 9 AM UTC.

The debate now splits the community — some believe the skins are just a fun nod to Marvel’s comic-book history, while others think the shift toward more revealing designs is unnecessary. Regardless of where players stand, Marvel Rivals continues to hold its ground as one of the most-played free-to-play titles right now.

Source: Rivals Assembled interview with Guangyun “Guangguang” Chen, YouTube Timestamp 11:38