The undead are rising in Marvel Rivals! NetEase has officially unveiled the game’s first-ever PvE mode—Marvel Zombies—launching globally on October 23, 2025, at 12:00 AM UTC. This limited-time Halloween event transforms the competitive hero shooter into a cooperative survival experience where you and three teammates battle endless waves of zombies, including two terrifying boss fights.
If you’ve been craving PvE content in hero shooters (especially after Overwatch 2’s broken promises), this is your moment. Here’s everything you need to know about when you can play, which heroes are available, and what makes this mode special.
Table of Contents
Marvel Rivals Global Release Times: When Can You Play?
Marvel Zombies launches simultaneously worldwide on October 23, 2025, at 12:00 AM UTC. Here’s when the mode goes live in your local time zone:
| Region | Date | Time | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Time (PT) | October 22 | 5:00 PM | Tuesday Evening |
| Eastern Time (ET) | October 22 | 8:00 PM | Tuesday Night |
| UTC/GMT | October 23 | 12:00 AM | Wednesday Midnight |
| India (IST) | October 23 | 5:30 AM | Wednesday Morning |
| China (CST) | October 23 | 8:00 AM | Wednesday Morning |
| Japan (JST) | October 23 | 9:00 AM | Wednesday Morning |
| Australia (AEDT) | October 23 | 11:00 AM | Wednesday Morning |
| UK (BST) | October 23 | 1:00 AM | Wednesday Night |
Source: Marvel Rivals Official Twitter
Pro Tip: North American players get a late-night launch, while Asia-Pacific fans can jump into the zombie apocalypse first thing Wednesday morning. There may be a short maintenance period before the mode becomes playable.
For more coverage of Marvel Rivals updates and seasons, check out our Marvel Rivals news hub.
What Is Marvel Zombies Mode?
Marvel Zombies is a 1-4 player co-op PvE mode where you fight endless waves of undead enemies on the Empire of Eternal Night (Midtown) map. The mode is inspired by the Marvel Zombies animated series that premiered on Disney+ in September 2025 and draws clear gameplay inspiration from Call of Duty’s legendary Zombies mode and Overwatch’s Junkenstein’s Revenge.
Key Features:
- Co-op gameplay: Team up with up to 3 friends
- Single map: Empire of Eternal Night Midtown from Convoy mode
- Limited hero pool: 5 specially reworked heroes
- Boss fights: Face Zombie Namor and The Queen of the Dead (Scarlet Witch)
- Progression system: Unlock abilities through “Khonshu’s Blessings”
- Leaderboards: Compete for fastest completion times
- Limited-time event: Part of the Midnight Mayhem Halloween update
According to Marvel Games Executive Producer Danny Koo: “You’ll have to survive the horde, go toe-to-toe with Zombie Namor and The Queen of the Dead as bosses, and fight to save the world from getting totally zombified.”
The 5 Playable Heroes (And Their Zombie-Slaying Powers)
Unlike the game’s massive roster of 30+ heroes, Zombies mode limits you to five specially reworked characters designed for PvE combat. Character buffs and nerfs from competitive mode don’t apply here—these heroes have been completely reimagined.
| Hero | Role | Special Zombie Mode Abilities |
|---|---|---|
| Thor | Tank/Damage | Permanently in Awakened State with continuous lightning attacks |
| Blade | Damage | Moon Blades now bounce between enemies to shred through hordes |
| Magik | Tank/Damage | Darkchild form has no time limit (similar to Thor’s permanent buff) |
| Jeff the Land Shark | Support/Damage | Can charge through enemies while remaining hidden underground |
| The Punisher | Damage | Deploys automatic turrets and lays down heavy firepower for defense |
Each hero has complex ability trees accessible through the progression system. As you play, you’ll unlock new traits and build custom loadouts specifically for the Zombies mode. This adds a surprising amount of depth beyond just shooting undead enemies.
Why These Heroes? The selection balances offense, defense, and crowd control. Thor and Magik provide tanky sustain, Blade and Punisher deliver raw damage, while Jeff offers mobility and support—perfect for surviving wave after wave.
Explore more hero guides and tier lists on our gaming strategies page.
The Two Boss Fights: Zombie Namor & The Queen of the Dead
Beyond the endless zombie hordes, you’ll face two major bosses that require coordination and strategy:
1. Zombie Namor The infected Sub-Mariner brings aquatic fury to the undead apocalypse. Expect powerful melee attacks and area-of-effect abilities that can wipe your team if you’re not careful.
2. The Queen of the Dead (Zombie Scarlet Witch) The true final challenge. Scarlet Witch’s reality-warping powers combined with her zombified state make her one of the most dangerous enemies in the mode. Her chaos magic abilities can overwhelm uncoordinated teams quickly.
Both bosses appear to have unique mechanics that go beyond simple damage sponges, making teamwork and proper hero composition essential.
Progression System: Khonshu’s Blessings
Marvel Zombies isn’t just mindless shooting. The mode features “Khonshu’s Blessings”—a progression system that lets you unlock and customize abilities over time.
How It Works:
- Access ability trees for each hero in the Zombies Mode menu
- Swap out abilities before matches
- Assign new Traits to create custom loadouts
- Unlock stronger abilities through repeated play
- Build loadouts optimized for specific bosses
This system encourages replayability. As you level up within Zombies mode (which has its own separate level system), you’ll unlock more powerful combinations to tackle higher difficulties and leaderboard challenges.
Limited-Time Event: How Long Will It Last?
Here’s the big question: Is this permanent? Marvel Zombies is launching as a limited-time Halloween event, with no official confirmation on whether it’ll become permanent.
What We Know:
- Launches October 23 as part of Season 4.5’s Midnight Mayhem event
- Halloween skins available in store until November 20, 2025
- Season 5 begins November 14, 2025 (with Rogue and Gambit rumored)
- Previous limited modes in Marvel Rivals have sometimes returned or become permanent
The developers haven’t confirmed whether the mode stays after Halloween ends, but given the positive reception to Overwatch’s seasonal PvE modes returning annually, there’s hope Marvel Zombies could follow a similar pattern.
Halloween Cosmetics: Midnight Mayhem Skins
Two exclusive Halloween skins are dropping alongside Zombies mode on October 23 at 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET:
- Limited availability (leaves store November 20, 2025)
- Themed around the zombie apocalypse aesthetic
- Available for purchase with in-game currency
These cosmetics add to the seasonal atmosphere, though they’re optional for enjoying the mode itself.
Why This Matters for Marvel Rivals
Less than a year after launch, Marvel Rivals is delivering what Overwatch 2 promised but failed to provide—substantial PvE content. This move has significant implications:
Community Impact:
- Addresses the #1 player request since launch
- Provides a stress-free alternative to competitive PvP
- Creates content for casual players and PvE enthusiasts
- Demonstrates NetEase’s commitment to diverse content
One fan on Twitter perfectly captured the sentiment: “Less than a year after launch, Marvel Rivals is already getting its first PVE Mode: Marvel Zombies. It’s insane how quickly they were able to do what Overwatch could never do. This game cannot stop taking W’s.”
For the genre as a whole, this signals that hero shooters can successfully balance competitive PvP with cooperative PvE experiences—something the community has craved for years.
How to Access Zombies Mode
When the mode launches, accessing it is straightforward:
- Launch Marvel Rivals on PC, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X/S
- Navigate to the “Play” menu
- Select “Zombies Mode” (alongside Quick Play, Competitive, etc.)
- Choose your hero from the limited pool of five
- Queue solo or with up to 3 friends
- Customize your loadout using Khonshu’s Blessings
- Fight for survival!
The separate queue system ensures you’re matched with other players specifically looking for PvE matches, reducing wait times.
The Verdict: A Halloween Treat Worth Celebrating
Marvel Zombies represents everything the hero shooter community has been asking for: meaningful PvE content that complements rather than replaces the competitive experience. With its October 23 global launch just hours away, NetEase has delivered a Halloween update that feels substantial rather than superficial.
The limited hero pool might disappoint some, but the deep progression system and custom loadouts add replayability that pure wave survival often lacks. And let’s be honest—facing zombie versions of Namor and Scarlet Witch sounds absolutely epic.
Whether this becomes a permanent fixture or returns seasonally, Marvel Zombies proves that Marvel Rivals is committed to evolving beyond its competitive roots. It’s a win for PvE fans, a win for casual players seeking lower-stress content, and a win for the hero shooter genre as a whole.
The countdown is on. Grab your friends, pick your hero, and prepare to save the world from zombification. The undead are rising, and Marvel Rivals is ready to fight back.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Marvel Rivals Zombies mode permanent, or will it disappear after Halloween?
A: Marvel Zombies is launching as a limited-time Halloween event starting October 23, 2025, and the developers haven’t confirmed whether it will stay after the Halloween period ends. The Midnight Mayhem Halloween skins are confirmed to leave the store on November 20, 2025, which might suggest the mode could end around the same time when Season 5 launches on November 14. However, previous limited-time modes in Marvel Rivals have sometimes returned or become permanent features based on player feedback. Given the massive development effort that went into creating the progression system, boss fights, and hero reworks, there’s a strong chance NetEase will either make it permanent or bring it back seasonally. The community response will likely determine its fate—so if you want it to stay, play it extensively and provide feedback!
Q: Can I play Marvel Zombies mode solo, or do I need a full team of friends?
A: You have complete flexibility! Marvel Zombies supports 1-4 players, meaning you can play entirely solo if you prefer, or team up with 1-3 friends. Character buffs and nerfs from competitive mode don’t apply in Zombies mode, and the game likely adjusts difficulty based on team size (though this hasn’t been officially confirmed). Playing solo gives you full control over strategy and loadout choices, while playing with friends allows for coordinated tactics against the two bosses (Zombie Namor and The Queen of the Dead/Scarlet Witch). The mode’s progression system—Khonshu’s Blessings—works identically whether you play solo or in a group, letting you unlock ability trees and build custom loadouts over time. There’s also a matchmaking system, so if you don’t have friends available, you can queue with random players who are also looking for PvE matches.
