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The season that many X-Men fans have been waiting for, Season 8.5 of Marvel Rivals, is finally nearing its release. After Devil Dinosaur trampled over everyone during Season 8, this mid-season update is set to bring even more excitement to the game, especially with the arrival of the new hero. Let’s go over everything you need to know about Season 8.5 here.
Marvel Rivals Season 8.5 Release Date
According to the Dev Vision, Marvel Rivals Season 8.5 is set to release on June 12, 2026 UTC. While the exact release time has not been confirmed yet, based on previous updates, it is expected to go live around 11:00 AM UTC.
Here is the expected release time in other time zones:
| Time Zone | Release Time |
|---|---|
| CEST (Central Europe, UTC+2) | 1:00 PM |
| EET (Eastern Europe, UTC+3) | 2:00 PM |
| IST (India, UTC+5:30) | 4:30 PM |
| CST (China, UTC+8) | 7:00 PM |
| JST (Japan, UTC+9) | 8:00 PM |
| KST (South Korea, UTC+9) | 8:00 PM |
| AEST (Australia East, UTC+10) | 9:00 PM |
| PDT (US Pacific, UTC-7) | 4:00 AM |
Marvel Rivals Season 8.5 New Hero
Here comes the most exciting part. Marvel Rivals Season 8.5 is set to introduce one of the most highly anticipated characters yet, Cyclops. Cyclops has long been one of the fan-favorite heroes in the Marvel community.
As a classic X-Men leader, many players have been waiting for his arrival in Marvel Rivals, and he will likely become one of the most instant-picked heroes upon release.
He is to be a Duelist, with abilities centered around his optic blasts. He can deal heavy damage with his lasers, which can bounce and connect with nearby enemies.
For more details on what Cyclops could bring to the game, make sure to check out our full Cyclops guide.
Marvel Rivals Season 8.5 New Skins
Marvel Rivals Season 8.5 is set to introduce the Summer Festival event, bringing a variety of new summer-themed skins for players to collect.
Additionally, from June 12 to June 26, the 616 Vault will be available, allowing players to obtain limited-time costumes from previous seasons that are returning for a short period.
Marvel Rivals Season 8.5 New Map
Season 8.5 is also set to introduce a new Bounty Annihilation map, K'un-Lun: Shenloong Arena. This new map is designed specifically for the 18v18 game mode.
A new social hub will also be added, called Hellfire Bay Beach. This non-combat area allows players to hang out, socialize, and relax by the beach. Make sure to wear your best swimsuits!
Marvel Rivals Season 8.5 Balance Changes
A few balance changes will also be introduced with the start of the mid-season update. However, mid-season patches usually do not bring massive meta-defining adjustments, so players should mainly expect smaller tweaks and minor balancing changes for certain characters.
This page will be updated as soon as the patch notes are released.
That is everything you need to know about Season 8.5 of Marvel Rivals. Be sure to check back here for updates.
