Marvel Rivals director defends female character skins and points to “classic comic designs”

Ever since its debut towards the end of last year, there’s been a growing fanbase for Marvel Rivals. However, some observers are raising concerns that the depiction of its female characters might border on objectification.

Characters such as Psylocke, Emma Frost, and the Invisible Woman are currently trending on social media due to their outfits, which some consider quite revealing; these outfits can either be obtained through gameplay or purchased with actual money.

In a recent conversation on the show “Rivals Assembled,” the creative director of Marvel Rivals, Guanggang, was questioned about allegations that the game is excessively sexualized, often referred to colloquially as a “gooner” title.

He responded, “Our design is influenced by timeless comic book motifs, featuring iconic characters such as Mantis and Psylocke’s Vengeance. We take these classic designs and modernize them, creating fresh, appealing looks that our players seem to appreciate. I believe this approach demonstrates the widespread recognition we receive from our audience.

In the course of the interview, Guanggang delves into the creative process for crafting certain character skins, such as Squirrel Girl and the Krakoa Resort ones. These designs, you should know, draw inspiration from real-life themes that align with the narrative arc of the current season.

In an attempt to harmonize, we strive to merge the narratives of the season with influences from Krakoa, as well as trending aspects from reality, making the designs more relatable and engaging.

We design new elements, inspired by the original ones, and I’m thankful that these new creations have been generally appreciated by most gamers.

Discussions surrounding ‘gooner games’ are nothing novel; they’ve resurfaced in recent years in relation to titles like Stellar Blade and The First Descendant.

Although the criticisms may fit well with a game like The First Descendant, which gained popularity upon release due to its viral designs but quickly lost players, it seems oversimplified to apply the same judgement to Marvel Rivals.

Daily, the competition sees a significant surge in active players, consistently exceeding 100,000 on Steam.

Regularly achieving such impressive numbers suggests a game of outstanding quality, rather than one that merely uses suggestive cosmetic changes or sensational events to hold player interest or generate viral buzz.

Might some of these styles be considered “almost Gooner-like”? It’s plausible. Is Marvel Rivals a “Gooner game”? It seems unlikely. Perhaps it’s simply stylishly designed.

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2025-08-14 19:00