NetEase Games has seemingly set up a season-long murder mystery in Marvel Rivals with the dramatic death of Apocalypse, but players believe the identity of the killer has already been revealed. The Season 9 announcement trailer, which showcased the arrival of the powerful mutant Apocalypse, concludes with him being impaled by a mysterious attacker.
Apocalypse's monologue in the trailer details his ambition to achieve godhood by absorbing the power of other deities. This suggests his assailant is likely someone with a grievance against gods. While the trailer hints at The Hood's potential involvement, a strong fan theory points to Gorr the God Butcher as the true culprit.
Gorr the God Butcher, a creation of Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic, is a character with a sworn vendetta against all gods, a motivation that previously put him at odds with Thor. His signature weapon, All-Black the Necrosword, is described as an all-black blade. The sword depicted in the trailer, which pierces Apocalypse, appears to be black, aligning with Gorr's weapon.
This fan theory is further supported by alleged leaks for Marvel Rivals Season 10, which reportedly list Gorr the God Butcher and Nightcrawler as the next playable characters. Introducing Gorr through a murder mystery narrative for Apocalypse would thus serve as a direct prelude to his playable debut. Players may encounter further teasers for Gorr throughout Season 9, mirroring the way Apocalypse was hinted at in the preceding season.
Marvel Rivals Season 9 is scheduled for release on July 10, and will introduce Jubilee as a playable character.