Marvel Rivals just dropped its Season 2.5 update on May 30, 2025, and honestly, it brought some pretty cool stuff. If you’ve been waiting for fresh heroes, new maps, or just something to shake up the game, this update is it. The big highlight? Ultron joining the fight as a new strategist hero. He’s got some interesting abilities, like flying around and healing teammates, which kind of changes how you might want to play your matches. Plus, the new map called Arakko gives a fresh battleground that feels different from what we’ve seen before.
When and How Did the Update Launch?
The update went live on May 30, and depending on where you are in the world, the launch time was different. For example, it hit early morning for players on the US west coast, but later in the day for folks in Europe and Asia. Before it went live, the servers were down for a little bit — nothing unusual with big updates — so players just had to wait for everything to get ready. It was a short downtime, but everyone was hyped to jump in right after. Here are some of the launch times so you know if you missed it or not:
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Pacific Time: 2:00 AM
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Eastern Time: 5:00 AM
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British Summer Time: 10:00 AM
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Indian Standard Time: 2:30 PM
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Japan Standard Time: 6:00 PM
What’s New? Ultron and Other Changes
Ultron is definitely the star of this update. He’s a flying hero who focuses on healing and attacking from a distance. Honestly, that’s a bit of a change for Marvel Rivals, which usually has more straightforward fighters. Ultron brings some strategy into the mix, especially since the story now centers around his takeover of Arakko, which is the new map introduced with the update. This map is basically Ultron’s mechanical home base, and it has a totally different vibe than the previous arenas.
Besides Ultron, there are also some changes to team-up abilities. The game added six new ones that let certain characters work together in fresh ways. For example, Venom teams up with Jeff the Land Shark to heal allies, and Punisher pairs with Black Widow to give her a cool new piercing shot. Plus, some older team-ups got removed or tweaked to keep things balanced and interesting. So if you play a lot of team battles, these new combos might change your game plan.
What Else Changed? Cosmetics, Modes, and More
On top of new heroes and maps, there are some neat updates to how you customize your experience. You can now add little stickers to your nameplate, called “Moods,” which are kind of like fun decorations. There are also new emotes to use during matches if you want to express yourself better. And if you like skins, Season 2.5 brings new ones for characters like Magneto, Storm, and even the Fantastic Four.
Another thing that caught people’s attention is a new solo mode called Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol, which launches on June 6. This mode is a bit different — instead of controlling everything in real time, you set up your team and watch them fight automatically. It’s kind of like a strategy or chess game and might be fun if you want a break from regular matches.
The update also includes some important fixes and balancing changes. Certain heroes like Doctor Strange and Squirrel Girl got adjustments to keep the fights fair. Bugs were squashed, and some quality-of-life improvements were made, which makes the whole game run smoother.
Ranked Rewards and What’s Next
If you’re into ranked play, this update added new rewards tied to Ultron. You can earn exclusive cosmetics by climbing the ranks, which is always a nice bonus. Just a heads-up though, there’s no rank reset in Season 2.5, so your progress stays the same until Season 3 arrives. That next big reset is expected on July 11, 2025, so you’ve got some time to grind and enjoy the new content before things shake up again.
