Summary
As more info is revealed about the upcoming hero-shooterMarvel Rivals, players are starting to get a better idea of what the game will look like and how it will play. The latest update forMarvel Rivalsshowcased the map Yggsgard, a map that combines Asgard and Yggdrasil and was created by a Timestream Entanglement caused by Loki. While there is still a lot left unrevealed about the game, it seems obvious based on what little has been shown aboutMarvel Rivalsso far that one notable Marvel location is due for a map in the game.
Aside from the recent Yggsgard map reveal, fans can expectTokyo 2099 to appear as a map inMarvel Rivalsas well. While the inclusion of this map might hint towards a future playable character in Spider-Man 2099, one character already confirmed on the roster could point to another location likely to appear as a map. Given that Black Panther has already been featured inMarvel Rivals' promotional artwork, it’s more than likely that a Wakanda map isn’t far behind, and the location already has the perfect inspiration for its design.
A Wakanda Map is Likely for Marvel Rivals
Out of all the locations in the Marvel universe that could be turned into a map forMarvel Rivals, Wakanda holds some of the greatest potential for a map with interesting gameplay mechanics. Fans ofBlack Pantherare likely already familiar with Wakanda, a fictional African country within the Marvel universe that boasts some of the greatest technological advancements on Earth thanks to its supply of Vibranium. With Wakanda hiding its deposits of Vibranium from the rest of the world, the disparity between the real, futuristic aesthetic of Wakanda and the facade it shows the rest of the world could make for a unique map design.
Not only would a Wakanda map work well within the context ofMarvel Rivals, it already has the perfect inspiration inOverwatch 2’s Numbani map. InOverwatch 2, Numbani is a utopian African city where both humans and omnics are able to live peacefully together, mirroring the futuristic utopia of Wakanda in the Marvel universe. WithMarvel Rivalsdrawing clear inspiration fromOverwatch 2, it would make sense for a Wakanda map to follow a similar formula toOverwatch 2’s Numbani, but with its own unique twist.
What a Wakanda Map Could Look Like in Marvel Rivals
Since Wakanda is an entire country within the Marvel universe, aMarvel Rivalsmap based on it would probably have to narrow its scope to one section of the country. This makes the capital city of Birnin Zana the most likely candidate for a specific Wakanda map inMarvel Rivals. Similar to Numbani inOverwatch 2, a Wakanda map inMarvel Rivalscould have players move throughout the streets of Birnin Zana guarding a payload such as a shipment of Vibranium or even the Mind Stone within Vision from the MCU’sAvengers: Infinity War, similar toOverwatch 2’s Escort mode.
One way Wakanda could differentiate itself fromOverwatch 2’s Numbani map is by having part of the map take place outside the barrier hiding Wakanda’s true form and allowing players to cross the barrier into Birnin Zana proper. This design would allow the map to start off in a rural, African savanna setting before taking players through the barrier into the futuristic utopia of Birnin Zana. Much like howMarvel Rivals' Yggsgard mapcombines elements of Asgard and Yggdrasil, having a Wakanda map showcase the two sides of the country would be a great way to give the game more flavor while paying homage to such an iconic location.
