Marvel Rivals’ New Zombies Mode Sparks Huge Player Spike on Steam

Marvel Rivals has seen a major surge in players thanks to the launch of its new Marvel Zombies PvE mode, marking the game’s highest peak in months.

Player count surges for Marvel Rivals after launch of Marvel Zombies PvE mode, inspired by comics and series.

The free-to-play superhero shooter, developed by NetEase and released in December 2024, has been steadily holding its ground on Steam. Season 4 introduced heroes like Daredevil and Angela, keeping the community engaged, though numbers had dipped compared to its explosive debut. Back in Season 1, the game reached an impressive 644,000 concurrent players, but by mid-October 2025, that figure had dropped by around 85%, settling near 95,000.

That all changed on October 23rd, when the new PvE mode went live. According to SteamDB, Marvel Rivals’ player count jumped from its usual 75,000–80,000 range to over 120,000, nearly doubling overnight.

The limited-time mode, inspired by Marvel’s Zombies comics and the animated series, lets players team up against waves of AI-controlled undead. It’s a Halloween event that blends survival gameplay with the superhero chaos fans already love.

Community reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. On Reddit, players have praised the mode’s design and intensity, with some even calling for it to become a permanent feature.

It’s not surprising that PvE has struck a chord; fans have been asking for it since launch. NetEase has hinted at more experimental events in the future, suggesting this won’t be the last time we see Marvel Rivals step outside its usual PvP focus.

For now, though, the Marvel Zombies mode is only available until mid-November, so if you want to dive in with friends and take on hordes of undead, you’ll need to act fast.