Marvel Rivals' New Punisher Skin Is Hiding a Big Secret in…

Since its release on December 6, 2024, Marvel Rivals has shown a lot of care for its IP. From its inclusion of fan-favorite characters to the addition of obscure Easter eggs, Marvel Rivals has proven how deep it is willing to dive into the Marvel universe.

To keep Marvel Rivals alive, NetEase Games has continued to update the game with new content, including skins for its existing roster of Marvel characters. Recently, a new skin for The Punisher has been revealed, based on a design that Marvel fans will be familiar with. However, there is one secret it includes that could hint toward something much bigger heading into the game very soon.

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The Punisher's New Skin Hints at Daredevil's Marvel Rivals Debut

The Skin Is Based on His MCU Look

So far, all The Punisher’s skins in Marvel Rivals have either been based on his appearances in the comics or are designs that are completely original to the game. However, his latest skin is based on The Punisher’s look from Daredevil: Born Again, the character’s first cosmetic inspired by his Marvel Cinematic Universe counterpart. Compared to his other skins, this one is much more grounded, infused with the added realism that is to be expected from an MCU-based design.

Marvel Rivals already includes many skins based on the MCU that have proven popular with players, so the release of this new skin for The Punisher is likely to be a hit with fans of the character. He recently received damage buffs in Season 2.5, so players looking to use The Punisher to strengthen their Marvel Rivals team comp can do so in style with this skin.

Daredevil May Be Added Very Soon

What’s most interesting about the skin is the implications for the future. Many of the skins that are not original to Marvel Rivals appear with an emblem in the background when viewed in the Hero Profile, signifying which collection the skin belongs to. For example, the new Human Torch skin available in the Venom’s Bubble Pop Event is part of the Future Foundation set. As The Punisher’s new skin is based on his Daredevil: Born Again appearance, the symbol that appears is not based on The Punisher, but is instead Daredevil’s logo.

The asset isn’t one found in the MCU, instead created by NetEase specifically for this crossover skin. This seems to imply that preparations have already been made for Daredevil to be included in the game’s roster. Leaks have revealed that Daredevil could be coming to Marvel Rivals, so this new asset could hint that his arrival may be much sooner than players expected.

There is another piece of tangential evidence to give credence to this theory. One of the most recent skins added to the game is Moon Knight’s Phoenix Knight skin, which is part of a new series of skins dubbed “Phoenix Force." While the skin is a reference to the Marvel comics, the Phoenix Force is more commonly associated with Jean Grey.

As the recent seasons have featured a lot of X-Men-related content, and considering that Phoenix has been leaked as an upcoming playable character, it’s possible that the Moon Knight skin is hinting at her being added to the game very soon. If this is true, then players may be able to expect Daredevil to receive the same treatment now that The Punisher’s new skin has been revealed.

It’s possible that Daredevil could arrive in Marvel Rivals as early as Season 3. The DD logo in The Punisher’s new skin is a major clue, but what could support this theory is the rumored focus on Knull in the upcoming Marvel Rivals season of the game. In Chip Zdarsky’s Daredevil run of comics from 2019, Knull became one of the story’s antagonists briefly, resulting in Matt bonding with a symbiote to become a Knullified version of Daredevil. This makes The Devil from Hell’s Kitchen all the more likely to appear in Season 3, possibly with his Knullified form as a skin.

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Daredevil Would Be An Interesting Addition

As the Daredevil logo is already in the game ahead of the character’s announcement, it’s not unreasonable to expect that other assets for the character are already being worked on or nearing completion. Some in-game lore seems to reference Daredevil, so this could be setting up this inclusion on the roster.

Since The Punisher’s new skin is his iteration from Daredevil: Born Again, it could be possible that Matt Murdock’s reveal will coincide with an MCU skin of his own. This skin could similarly take inspiration from his look from the same show, but there are plenty more MCU Daredevil suit options to choose from. The most likely option would be his minimalist Man Without Fear suit, not only because it is a fan favorite, but also because of the popularity of other homemade Marvel Rivals skins, like Spider-Man’s Bag-Man Beyond costume.

Daredevil and The Punisher are intrinsically linked, so having the pair in the game would make for an interesting dynamic. One thing that gives Marvel Rivals more appeal is its interactions between characters, revealing more about the personalities and relationships of the game’s heroes and villains. Hearing the two squabble before the match starts could endear players to them, setting the team up for a positive game.

Players whose primary pick in Marvel Rivals is The Punisher are sure to appreciate the addition of the Daredevil: Born Again skin to their collection. However, the Daredevil symbol used for the skin may be more than just a passing reference, potentially hinting that the hero will be added to the game sooner rather than later. Daredevil’s video game appearances are quite rare, and with Marvel Rivals being one of the IPs most successful games in recent years, including the Man Without Fear on the roster would be great for fans of the character. Until his inclusion, players can enjoy The Punisher’s new skin in anticipation.

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