NetEase Games has committed to introducing at least one new hero to Marvel Rivals every half-season, yet that hasn't deterred one creative player from envisioning his own version of Doctor Octopus as a playable character. Reddit user WickedCube wowed the r/MarvelRivals community this week by sharing a 30-second video that appears to showcase early gameplay footage of NetEase's popular hero shooter. The clip features a pre-Hulk Bruce Banner suspended in midair within a testing environment, but keen-eyed Marvel enthusiasts will spot the resemblance to the iconic Spider-Man adversary, Doctor Octopus, albeit in a raw, unrefined form tailored to the Marvel Rivals style.

We need more vanguards, so i made one (Doctor Octopus)
byu/Wickedcube inmarvelrivals

Although the animation may appear somewhat stiff and comical, the character's design is undeniably evocative of Doctor Octopus. With a closer look, you can appreciate WickedCube's well-considered concept of how Doc Ock might navigate and interact within the game's world. His innovative take allows the character to effectively "fly" by magnetizing to nearby structures, a crucial feature in a game with destructible environments. The concept even includes specific abilities like Havoc Claw for melee attacks and Wrecking Grip for ranged combat. With an impressive 16,000 upvotes at the time of this article, this fan-made project demonstrates both creativity and feasibility, crafted entirely by a single individual.

WickedCube shared that his inspiration stemmed from Doctor Octopus's status as one of Spider-Man's most intriguing villains, particularly due to the challenge of implementing his tentacles in a 3D gaming environment. "As far as I know, they haven't been fully implemented with playable 3D movement in a game before," he noted. Previously a developer at Space Engineers studio Keen Software House, WickedCube left in January 2024 to pursue his own projects. While usually focused on mechanics prototyping and seeking contract work, the recent PSN outage spurred him into action. "It all started when PSN was down and I couldn’t play Marvel Rivals," he explained. "While browsing Twitter, I came across some really cool Doc Ock fan art. I thought, 'Since I can't play right now, why not make it myself?'"

Doctor Octopus in the style of Marvel Rivals
.#MarvelRivals #MarvelRivalsfanart pic.twitter.com/d3XHXMZsCL

— CoryHarris.jpg (@LordDepis) January 26, 2025

The community's enthusiastic response, with thousands appreciating his work, has been "incredibly rewarding" for WickedCube. He expressed openness to NetEase adopting his ideas should Doctor Octopus ever join the game officially. While he doesn't plan to refine the design further, he aims to release a playable version soon and share his process through a YouTube tutorial series. He also plans to open-source the code on GitHub and make the playable versions available on Itch.

As NetEase gears up to unveil two new characters, the Human Torch and The Thing, this Friday, following the recent introduction of their Fantastic Four teammates, Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, the game continues to expand its roster rapidly. This strong start positions Marvel Rivals ahead of its competitors, tapping into the vast potential of Marvel's universe of heroes and villains.

WickedCube's initiative was driven by the community's call for more Vanguard, or tank-like characters, in the game. While no official announcements hint at Doctor Octopus's inclusion anytime soon, WickedCube is already brainstorming other potential heroes, including Nightcrawler and Professor Xavier from the X-Men.

With Marvel Rivals set to roll out its Season 1 mid-season update on February 21, featuring new character releases, balance adjustments, and gameplay enhancements, the game remains a thrilling prospect for players. In the meantime, stay informed about recent layoffs at NetEase's Seattle branch and why the studio is dismissing rumors about planted hero leaks.