NetEase Games revealed Deadpool as the first character for Marvel Rivals Season 6 during The Game Awards 2025 on December 11. Wade Wilson joins the free-to-play hero shooter when Season 6: Night at the Museum launches January 16, 2026.
The Game Awards Reveal
The official trailer showed a cinematic introduction to Deadpool rather than gameplay footage. NetEase highlighted the character's new voice performance and visual design created specifically for Marvel Rivals. This marks the earliest the developer has announced a new hero, coming at Season 5's midpoint instead of near the next season's launch.
The trailer didn't show how Deadpool plays or what abilities he'll have. NetEase focused on introducing the character's look and personality within the game's universe.
Season 6 Story Picks Up From Current Events
Night at the Museum continues plot threads from Season 5. Gambit and Rogue attempted to steal a prized artifact from the Collector's Museum, and now they're back trying to escape. The Collector hires Deadpool as his "top professional" to handle the situation without getting his hands dirty.
Things go sideways when Deadpool opens every cage door in the Collection. This releases all the exhibits and turns the museum into what NetEase calls "the greatest intergalactic disaster this timeline has ever seen." That sets up the chaos players will experience when the season launches.
- Season 5.5 Launch: December 12, 2025 (Rogue joins)
- Season 6 Launch: January 16, 2026 (Deadpool arrives)
- Season 6.5 Expected: Mid-February 2026 (Elsa Bloodstone predicted)
New Voice Actor for the Merc with a Mouth
Deadpool won't be voiced by Ryan Reynolds or Nolan North in Marvel Rivals. Reynolds portrayed the character in the film franchise, while North has voiced him in various video games. NetEase went with a different actor for their version.
Community speculation points to Alejandro Saab as the voice behind Marvel Rivals' Deadpool. Borderlands 4 players will recognize Saab as Rafa. NetEase hasn't officially confirmed the casting, so the speculation continues for now.
Elsa Bloodstone Makes Brief Appearance
The trailer's ending showed Elsa Bloodstone, the monster-hunting character from Marvel Comics. She appears to take a shot at Deadpool near the end of the cinematic. NetEase's description mentions "a hunter on the horizon ready to put a stop to the antics," which lines up with Elsa's arrival.
Her exact role remains unclear. She might have been hired by another party or could have shown up independently to deal with the museum chaos. Based on NetEase's pattern of adding two heroes per season, Elsa Bloodstone will likely join as the second playable character during Season 6, probably in the mid-season 6.5 update.
Season 5 Hints Came True
Season 5 launched November 14, 2025, and is currently running. Gambit arrived as the first playable hero, with Rogue joining December 12, 2025. The community correctly predicted Season 6's character additions before the official reveal.
Season 5's gallery card contained dialogue from the Collector referencing "a blathering, foul-mouthed mercenary" and "a monster hunter as deadly as she is beautiful." Fans connected these descriptions to Deadpool and Elsa Bloodstone before The Game Awards confirmed it.
Player Growth Continues
Deadpool's addition will likely push Marvel Rivals' player count higher. The game has seen player growth over recent months, with Marvel Zombies contributing to those numbers. NetEase used that momentum to launch Season 5, which added X-Men favorites Gambit and Rogue.
Marvel Rivals launched in December 2024 as a free-to-play hero shooter on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game adds two playable heroes per season, and all characters unlock for players without extra purchases.
Role Classification Still Unknown
NetEase hasn't specified which role Deadpool will occupy in Marvel Rivals. The game sorts heroes into different role categories, but neither Deadpool nor Elsa Bloodstone have been officially classified yet. Community speculation exists about their potential roles, but no official information has been released.
What's Next for Season 6
Players have just over a month from the reveal to prepare for Night at the Museum. Deadpool arrives first on January 16, with Elsa Bloodstone expected to follow later in the season. The museum-themed content should bring plenty of chaos alongside the new characters.
