A New Era for Marvel Rivals Begins

NetEase Games has just dropped one of the biggest announcements yet for Marvel Rivals. The hit hero shooter is set to introduce its first-ever PvE mode, Marvel Zombies, arriving on October 23, 2025 (UTC).

The first-ever PvE mode: Marvel Zombies is coming on Oct 23, 2025 UTC.

This new mode throws you and your squad into a relentless fight for survival against endless waves of the undead.

The city’s burning, the infected are rising – and it’s up to you to hold the line.
Get a… pic.twitter.com/DodsnAzoRB

— Marvel Rivals (@MarvelRivals) October 17, 2025

Inspired by the fan-favourite Marvel Zombies storyline and the Disney+ animated series, this new mode flips the script on traditional multiplayer action. Players and their squads will face endless waves of infected enemies in a burning city overrun by chaos. It’s a fight for survival where every second counts, and every hero matters.

“The city’s burning, the infected are rising — and it’s up to you to hold the line,” Marvel Rivals teased on social media, alongside a short clip showcasing the upcoming mode.

Inside Marvel Zombies Mode

Marvel Zombies arrives during Season 4.5, and it’s more than just a limited-time event, it’s a full PvE experience designed to push players’ teamwork and strategy to the limit.

Players can choose from five playable heroes, each featuring unique modifiers exclusive to the mode:

• Thor – Unlimited Awakened mode
• Magik – Unlimited Darkchylde mode
• Jeff the Landshark – “Hide and Seek” damages nearby enemies
• Punisher – Summons an automated turret for support
• Blade – Creates ricocheting moon blades

Image Credit: NetEase

The action unfolds in the Midtown map, now transformed into a desolate, zombie-infested battlefield. As players progress, they’ll face off against boss battles, including Zombie Namor and Zombie Scarlet Witch, who are set to debut later in Season 4.5 as purchasable skins.

Fan Reactions: “This Looks FIRE”

Fans across social media wasted no time reacting to the announcement.

“This is the start of something insane,” wrote AvatarLiger, imagining future missions like Avengers vs Chitauri and Black Widow and Hawkeye in Budapest.

Content creator ZoneX echoed the hype, simply saying: “This actually looks FIRE🔥🔥🔥.”

The community buzz suggests players are eager for NetEase to expand Marvel Rivals’ universe with more narrative-driven missions and crossover storylines that take cues from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

A Perfect Timing with Esports Heating Up

The reveal of Marvel Zombies couldn’t come at a better time. The Marvel Rivals esports scene is currently at full throttle, with the Ignite Stage 2 concluding and the Ignite Grand Finals right around the corner.

The Grand Finals will take place at DreamHack Atlanta from October 27 to November 2, 2025, featuring 12 of the world’s best teams battling for a $1 million prize pool, the largest in Marvel Rivals history.

DreamHack Atlanta, known for hosting top-tier gaming tournaments like the SNK World Championships and DreamHack Knockout (a CS2 qualifier), will serve as the perfect stage for this monumental event.

Fans who can’t attend in person can still catch all the action live on the official Marvel Rivals Twitch and YouTube channels.

What’s Next for Marvel Rivals

The addition of Marvel Zombies shows NetEase’s growing ambition to make Marvel Rivals a long-lasting, multi-genre experience. Previous arcade-style modes like Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol and Giant Size Hive Mind already hinted at the studio’s willingness to experiment, but this new PvE mode sets a fresh precedent.

With the Marvel Zombies mode, NetEase isn’t just adding new content, it’s expanding the boundaries of what Marvel Rivals can be. And if this is the beginning, fans can only imagine what’s next.

The post Marvel Rivals Unleashes First-Ever PvE Mode: Marvel Zombies Coming This October appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Riot Games is shaking things up in Teamfight Tactics with the launch of its first-ever progression-based PvE mode. Called Ao Shin’s Ascent, the new limited-time mode arrives on 24 September at 10am PT (3pm ET, 8pm BST, 7am NZST on 25 September), right after the release of patch 15.5. It will only be around until 8 October, at the end of patch 15.6.

⛰️Get ready to climb! ⛰️
Ao Shin’s Ascent is a timerless PvE mode with permanent power progression & the all-new Guide mechanic.

Climb the mountain, save corrupted Little Legends, and push to the summit!

Launches Sept 24 for a limited time. pic.twitter.com/489UvyRvO3

— Teamfight Tactics (@TFT) September 6, 2025

Traditionally, TFT has been all about PvP battles, where eight players pit their strategies against each other in a fight to be the last one standing. But with Ao Shin’s Ascent, Riot is giving players a fresh way to experience the game. This single-player roguelite challenge sees you climbing a mountain, battling waves of enemies and bosses, and unlocking permanent progression through the brand-new Journey Track.

How Ao Shin’s Ascent Works

At its core, the mode is about climbing to the summit while strengthening your board with Augments, items, and Guides. Each run plays out differently, as you’ll be able to:

• Pick your Guide, boss, and difficulty to shape your climb.
• Unlock Guides via the Journey Track, each offering unique powers and strategies. Zoe, for instance, hands out random loot, while bundle-exclusive Battle Queen Gwen unlocks powerful items from across different TFT sets.
• Progress win or lose, as the roguelite system ensures every attempt gets you closer to the top.

Clear the summit with at least 12 Guides and you’ll even claim a free Ao Shin’s Ascent Portal reward.

Bundles and Rewards

Players can also grab themed bundles:

• Guide Pack (575 RP): Includes an emote plus Truth Dragon Yasuo and Battle Queen Gwen as exclusive Guides.
• Mega Bundle (2,780 RP): Packs in both Guides, the emote, two Little Legends (Awakened Ao Shin and Sol Harbinger Ao Shin), and the second K.O. Coliseum Pass Plus.

Riot on Ao Shin’s Ascent

Christina Jiang, Events Product Lead for TFT, described the mode as “our most ambitious PvE experiment yet,” saying it blends the game’s trademark strategy with roguelite chaos. Senior Game Designer Michael “Skip” Scipione added that bosses will evolve with shifting modifiers, making every climb a new story.

For a game that’s already considered the world’s biggest PC strategy title, Ao Shin’s Ascent marks a bold step forward. Whether you’re a seasoned TFT grinder or someone looking for a new challenge, this climb looks like one worth taking.

Ao Shin’s Ascent kicks off 24 September and runs until 8 October, so get ready to test your strategy against the mountain.

The post Teamfight Tactics Brings First-Ever PvE Mode with Ao Shin’s Ascent This September appeared first on Shane the Gamer.