NetEase has finally detailed how cross-progression will work in Marvel Rivals, and you'll want to pay close attention before linking your accounts. While you can connect your PC, PlayStation, and Xbox profiles, your progress won't merge. Instead, you must designate one account as your 'primary character,' and unlinking comes with a hefty 180-day cooldown.
The One-Way Street of Account Linking
The system is designed to give you a single persistent identity across the Timestream Entanglement, but it's not a simple fusion of all your unlocks. When you link your accounts (from Steam, Epic, PSN, or Xbox), the game will prompt you to choose one to be your primary. This character's progress, including levels and cosmetics, will be accessible on all linked platforms.
Here’s the catch: the data from your other, non-primary accounts isn't merged or lost, but simply shelved. It remains saved in the background, but you can't access it while the accounts are linked. If you decide to unlink, be prepared for a long wait—you'll be locked out from re-linking that account for a full 180 days. Choose your primary hero roster wisely.
Ranked Play and Platform Exclusives
For the competitive crowd, this system has a significant impact on ranked integrity. Your rank and leaderboard position are tracked separately per device type. This means there will be distinct leaderboards for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Your performance on a mouse and keyboard won't affect your standing when you're playing on a controller, which is a smart move to keep the competition fair across different input methods.
Another key detail involves platform-exclusive cosmetics. If you have a skin that was only available through a PlayStation Plus pack or an Xbox promotion, you'll only be able to equip it when playing on that specific console. These items won't carry over to other platforms, even with your primary account.
What happens if I unlink my Marvel Rivals account?
If you unlink a platform account, you will be unable to link it to any other account for 180 days. While you can switch which character is your 'primary' among your linked accounts, doing so comes with its own 30-minute cooldown. The system is clearly built to encourage players to pick a main and stick with it.