NetEase Games has responded to community backlash regarding the tier of Storm's new summer skin in Marvel Rivals, opting to upgrade the cosmetic to Legendary status. The decision came just 12 hours after the initial announcement, following a strong reaction from players who felt the character was being underserved.
The controversy stemmed from the rarity assigned to the new summer skins. In Marvel Rivals, skins are categorized as Rare, Epic, or Legendary, with higher tiers offering additional visual features and costing more. While the new summer skins for Magik and Scarlet Witch were designated Legendary, Storm's was initially set as Epic. This discrepancy, particularly given Storm's existing skin collection where she has only one Legendary outfit compared to Magik's six and Scarlet Witch's five, led to community speculation that the character was receiving less attention.
Fans perceived the Epic tiering of Storm's summer skin as a slight, especially when compared to the Legendary tiering of the other two female characters' new summer outfits. Without an official explanation from the developers, the community voiced concerns that this indicated a lack of regard for the iconic X-Men character.
In response to the widespread feedback on social media, NetEase Games announced via their official X account that the "Sacred Skies" skin would be upgraded to Legendary tier. This upgrade will be free for all players and will include a new lobby animation and an updated MVP animation. The skin will retain its original price of $16 and will also feature an ultimate-effect upgrade, enhancing the visual effects of Storm's ultimate ability. The developer also assured the community that Storm would receive additional Legendary tier costumes in the future, though no specific release dates were provided.