The Ragin' Cajun is dealing himself in. Marvel Rivals Season 5 kicks off on November 14, introducing Gambit as the newest playable hero. This major update also brings the Times Square map, a complete rework of the competitive system, and a free Iron Spider costume to earn.
As the Timestream Entanglement continues to pull worlds together, Gambit arrives alongside a chaotic new battlefield: Times Square. This patch, version 20251114, is more than just new content; it fundamentally alters the ranked experience for dedicated players.
Competitive Play Gets a Major Overhaul
The biggest shake-up this season is to the ranked playlist. Say goodbye to your old rank, because everyone is starting fresh with 10 placement matches. Your performance in these matches will determine your starting rank for Season 5. This is a welcome change that should lead to more balanced matchmaking early in the season.
The rules for grouping up are also getting stricter at the top. Once you hit Diamond tier or higher, you'll be restricted to solo or duo queues only. This is a direct response to feedback about high-level players getting stomped by full 5-stack teams. For players below Diamond, you can still queue in groups of up to three. It's a clear move to prioritize individual skill and smaller-scale coordination at the highest levels of play.
What else is new in Marvel Rivals Season 5?
Beyond the competitive changes, Season 5 is packed with new features. The new hero, Gambit, brings his kinetic card-throwing chaos to the roster, promising a unique playstyle for damage-focused players. The new Times Square map adds another iconic location torn by Doctor Doom's multiversal war.
Players can also earn a free Spider-Man - Iron Spider costume through the new 'Elders' Chessboard' seasonal event. On the systems side, full cross-progression is finally here, letting you link accounts and share your progress across PC and console. Other additions include interactive emotes and Discord integration for Xbox players.
Patch Fixes and Performance Boosts
NetEase also squashed a few pesky bugs and rolled out performance improvements. The patch targets CPU and rendering optimizations to smooth out gameplay. Specific hero fixes include:
- Peni Parker: Fixed an issue where her mech's countdown visuals could disappear.
- Magik: Addressed a bug causing her Limbo Step to fail on certain terrain.
- Ultron: Corrected a problem where his Sentinel's attack logic would sometimes break.
The Season 5 update and maintenance are scheduled to begin on November 14 at 09:00 UTC. Get ready to climb the new ladder and see how Gambit shakes up the meta.