Marvel Rivals releases its first patch after the Season 4 release on September 18, bringing the Summer Special Vol. 2 event to the game with players claiming free rewards during the event. The highly anticipated update drops at 9 AM UTC with seamless deployment and no server downtime required.
| Update Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | September 18, 2025, 9:00 AM UTC |
| Event Duration | September 18 - October 17, 2025 |
| Server Downtime | None - Seamless deployment |
| Main Feature | Summer Special Vol. 2 Event |
| Free Rewards | The Thing - Rocky Tide, Volleyball Bash emote |
| Premium Skins | Mantis - Oceanic Harmony, Human Torch - Sunny Sizzler |
The centerpiece of this update is the return of the beloved Summer Special event. Level up the event to unlock FREE rewards like The Thing - Rocky Tide, and upgrade to the Premium Edition for permanent access and unlock even more exclusive rewards, such as Mantis - Oceanic Harmony and Human Torch - Sunny Sizzler costumes. This limited-time event runs from September 18 to October 17, 2025, giving players a full month to earn these summer-themed cosmetics.
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Following the success of the first Summer Special event, NetEase Games has outdone themselves with Vol. 2, featuring beach and ocean-themed skins that perfectly capture the summer vibes. The event operates on a progression system where players can level up through gameplay to unlock various rewards, with the option to purchase premium access for additional exclusive items.
Starting September 19 at 2 AM UTC, players can claim the "Volleyball Bash" group emote combo bundle absolutely free. The claim period runs from September 19th, 2025, 02:00:00 to September 22nd, 2025, 02:00:00 (UTC), giving players a limited 72-hour window to grab this exclusive summer-themed emote. Don't drop the ball on this opportunity!
Two new premium bundles join the store rotation on September 19:
Both bundles become available from September 19, 2025, at 2:00 AM UTC, adding to the growing collection of summer-themed cosmetics in 2025.
Chat Channels now support font color, special characters, emojis, and more, allowing players to express themselves like never before. This update brings a much-needed modernization to the in-game communication system, making team coordination and social interaction more engaging.
The replay data system receives significant enhancements with more detailed hero statistics, providing players with better tools to analyze their gameplay and improve their strategies. This feature is particularly valuable for competitive players looking to refine their techniques and understand their performance metrics.
The September 18 update addresses several important issues affecting all platforms:
Reduced Angela's excessively oversized head in Giant-Size Brain Blast, addressing a visual bug that affected gameplay in the popular arcade mode. This fix ensures better visibility and gameplay balance in the chaotic battles of Giant-Size Brain Blast.
The update fixes a significant bug where if Loki used his Ultimate Ability to transform into a costumed Adam Warlock and was KO'd and revived via Regenerative Cocoon, he'd come back wearing Adam's default costume. No more wardrobe malfunctions in the Multiverse!
Tweaked the starting points for Ultron's Encephalo-Ray and Nano-Ray attacks so they now fire perfectly from his palm. This adjustment improves the visual accuracy of Ultron's abilities and provides better feedback for players using the robotic villain.
Polished the animation for Luna Snow's Ultimate Ability, with her moves now smooth enough to impress even Star-Lord at a Guardians dance-off. The team also noted that Luna's Cool Summer Costume will receive additional fixes in the next patch to ensure perfect dance positioning on her Jellyfish platform.
PlayStation 5 players will experience improved performance as the update fixed rare performance drops and screen tearing on PS5. This optimization ensures smoother gameplay during intense battles and maintains consistent frame rates across all game modes.
The September 18 update arrives just six days after the massive Season 4: Heart of the Dragon launch, which introduced Angela as the new Vanguard hero and brought significant balance changes to the roster. Marvel Rivals released its much-awaited Season 4 earlier this month and introduced a brand new Vanguard hero, Angela, to the roster, with the Asgardian goddess adding much-needed diversity to the tank role.
This mid-season update demonstrates NetEase's commitment to maintaining regular content releases and addressing player feedback quickly. The Summer Special Vol. 2 event was initially revealed in the Season 4 roadmap, and its timely arrival shows the developers are keeping their promises to the community.
Building on the success of the original Summer Special event, Vol. 2 expands the roster of summer-themed cosmetics. Starting on Sept. 18, new summer skins are coming as part of this event, featuring swimsuit outfits for heroes like Punisher, Invisible Woman, Mantis, Human Torch, and The Thing. The event maintains the same progression-based reward system that players enjoyed in the first iteration while adding new features like the free emote bundle to increase engagement.
The premium tier offerings have also been enhanced, with the Mantis - Oceanic Harmony and Human Torch - Sunny Sizzler costumes showcasing higher quality designs and unique visual effects compared to previous seasonal skins.
The Marvel Rivals community has responded positively to the update announcement across various platforms. The official Discord server has been buzzing with excitement about the return of the Summer Special event, while the r/marvelrivals subreddit features numerous discussions about the new skins and fixes.
Players particularly appreciate the no-downtime deployment approach, allowing them to jump straight into the new content without waiting for maintenance windows. The quick turnaround from Season 4's launch to this content update also demonstrates NetEase's ability to maintain a consistent content pipeline.
To make the most of the Summer Special Vol. 2 event, players should focus on daily and weekly challenges that offer event XP. The event runs for exactly one month, providing ample time to unlock all free rewards through regular gameplay. Here's how to optimize your progression:
Set a reminder for September 19-22 to claim the free Volleyball Bash group emote combo bundle. This limited-time offer won't return once the claim window closes, making it a must-have for collectors and players who enjoy social features in Marvel Rivals.
With the Summer Special Vol. 2 event running until October 17, players can expect additional updates throughout the event period. Magneto, Scarlet Witch, Cloak & Dagger, and Luna Snow will get their own unique accessories to adorn themselves with, starting on Sept. 25, suggesting more cosmetic content is on the horizon.
The development team has also teased that The Marvel Rivals universe is ever-evolving; we have plenty more surprises and changes in store, indicating that players should stay tuned for future announcements through official channels.
The update includes improvements to the chat system that PC players will particularly benefit from, with enhanced emoji support and text formatting options. The replay system improvements also provide better tools for content creators and competitive players who analyze their gameplay.
Console players receive the same content updates with platform-specific optimizations. The PS5 performance fixes address community-reported issues, while Xbox players continue to enjoy stable performance with this seamless update.
All cosmetics and progression from the Summer Special Vol. 2 event carry over between platforms for players with linked accounts, ensuring a consistent experience regardless of where you play.
For players seeking additional information or experiencing issues after the update, several resources are available:
The update launches on September 18, 2025, at 9:00 AM UTC with no server downtime required. Simply log in after the specified time to access all new content.
The event runs from September 18, 2025, at 9:00 AM UTC to October 17, 2025, at 9:00 AM UTC, giving players exactly one month to earn all rewards.
Yes, the Summer Special Vol. 2 skins are event-exclusive and won't be available in the regular store rotation after the event ends. Players who purchase the Premium Edition gain permanent access to these cosmetics.
The Volleyball Bash group emote combo bundle is only available for free from September 19-22, 2025. If you miss this window, the emote may return as a paid item in the future, but the free claim opportunity won't return.
No, the update deploys seamlessly without requiring a separate download or server maintenance. The game will automatically update when you log in after 9:00 AM UTC on September 18.
No, this is a content and bug fix update that doesn't include any rank resets or changes to the competitive system. Your rank and progression remain unchanged.
The Thing - Rocky Tide skin is available for free through event progression. However, Mantis - Oceanic Harmony and Human Torch - Sunny Sizzler require purchasing the Premium Edition of the event pass.
The September 18 update focuses on bug fixes and new content rather than hero balance changes. The major balance adjustments were implemented in the Season 4 launch on September 12.
The Marvel Rivals September 18 update successfully delivers on its promise of bringing exciting summer content while addressing key quality of life issues. The return of the Summer Special event with Vol. 2 provides players with a month of engaging content and exclusive rewards, while the bug fixes and optimizations improve the overall gameplay experience.
With seamless deployment and no server downtime, NetEase continues to demonstrate their commitment to providing a smooth, player-friendly experience. Whether you're diving in for the free rewards, purchasing the premium skins, or simply enjoying the bug fixes, this update offers something for every Marvel Rivals player.
Remember to mark your calendars for the free Volleyball Bash emote claim window and start planning your event progression strategy. The Summer Special Vol. 2 event promises to be one of the highlights of Season 4, bringing a perfect blend of cosmetic content and gameplay improvements to Marvel Rivals in September 2025.
Stay connected with the Marvel Rivals community through the official Discord server and keep an eye on upcoming announcements for even more exciting content throughout Season 4: Heart of the Dragon!