Marvel Rivals has caused quite a stir in its community after introducing a controversial new item through its latest “Galacta’s Gift” event, a free battle pass where players can unlock new skins and other cosmetics. The event goes live today.
The item in question is a free Chrono Shield Card, which players can activate to prevent the loss of Competitive Points in Ranked Matches. Fans, streamers, and content creators quickly took to social media to express frustration with the unusual addition.
Notable Marvel Rivals streamer and former Overwatch player Flats_OW was baffled by the item. Others voiced concern that if NetEase continues to distribute similar items, this could open the door to a “Pay-to-Win” scenario in the future.
Don’t Panic (Yet)
There is a silver lining: NetEase confirmed that Chrono Shield Cards are limited and will never be available for purchase. They also clarified that these cards are only usable by players in Gold Rank and below, intending to ease pressure on those climbing the lower tiers of ranked play.
Each player can use the Chrono Shield Card up to 20 times. The good news? They're being distributed for free to everyone participating in the Galacta’s Gift event, which starts today.
For higher-ranked players (Diamond and above), there's no need to worry. NetEase has stated that these items will not be available in upper tiers… at least, not yet.
Pay-to-Win Concerns Linger
Even though NetEase has addressed the community’s concerns, players remain cautious. Many fear that this could set a troubling precedent for the game’s competitive integrity, where Chrono Shield Cards or similar items could become purchasable in the future.
However, now, NetEase appears to be listening to community feedback. This move seems part of their effort to give back to a passionate player base, as Marvel Rivals celebrates a year since entering closed alpha. The game has maintained a consistent player count for nearly six months since launching in December.
The Galacta’s Gift event also ties in with Marvel Rivals’ effort to reintroduce previous content, including the return of the Season 0 Battle Pass.
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