Marvel Rivals is set to launch its ninth season, titled "The Mystery of Thebes," on July 10. This update will introduce a new Strategist hero, Jubilee, who utilizes energy-based projectiles for healing and disabling enemies. Her ultimate ability is described as an extensive fireworks display. A second new hero, The Hood, is slated for release later in the season at the 9.5 update, though his role has not yet been specified.
The season will also feature a rework for Black Widow, a highly anticipated change following a previous nerf. Details on the specific improvements to Black Widow's abilities remain undisclosed, but the character has faced criticism for lacking one-shot kill potential and mobility issues since the game's initial release.
Beyond new characters and reworks, Marvel Rivals Season 9 will expand the game's Team-Up abilities. Every hero will now possess two distinct Team-Up loadouts, each with a base effect and an enhanced effect. This system is an expansion from the current implementation, where the availability of multiple Team-Ups varies by hero. The specifics of these enhanced effects and how they are activated in different pairings are yet to be detailed.
New content will also be added to the game map and modes. On July 23, the game will receive the Thebes convoy map. Following this, on July 30, a new game mode called "Path to Doomsday - Avengers: Age of Ultron" will be introduced. In this mode, players will engage in a PvE experience where teams advance through Ultron's tower, confronting waves of robotic soldiers.
Maintenance for the season is expected to begin at 9 a.m. UTC and last for approximately two hours. Based on previous season launches, the update should go live around 7 a.m. EDT. This translates to 4 a.m. PDT in North America, 8 a.m. BRT in Brazil, 12 p.m. BST in the UK, 1 p.m. CEST in Western Europe, 8 p.m. JST in Japan, and 9 p.m. AEST in Eastern Australia.