It’s only been a few hours since one more jaw-breaking announcement from Marvel Rivals, and players are fast losing their sanity. Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol will greatly shake up the meta with new tactical options in play. From June 6 through June 23 (UTC), the limited-time mode will pit player strategies against custom modules for frenzied fighting and equally exclusive rewards. But is it just a fleeting distraction? Or maybe it will stick around? The jury is still out.
Let’s take a crack at defining what Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol really is. Looking purely off sight, that’s no ordinary brawl. Players called it auto-battler while putting it side by side with games such as Marvel Snap or even Mortal Kombat Chess (yes, that is really a thing). It’s more tactical in nature. It requires a player to think on the spot to outwit the opponent, and not just rely on skill: Some said, “OH MY GOD IT’S AUTO-CHESS PLEASE KEEP IT A PERMANENT MODE PLEASE,” while others stated “0 idea how to play that kinda game.” It’s that good old classic gamer divide.
The announcement, however, opened the floodgates of more complaints. One started a rant on the performance issue saying his game started working at “30 fps, and as low as 20 fps,” with absolutely no changes to his setup. Another judged and demanded fixes for a bunch of PS5 bugs, including the crashes and mic icon glitches. We then have the usual plethora of complains about balance; “THIS POKE META IS ASS!!!” and “Can you fix jeff so I can play the game without throwing my keyboard across the room” being just two of the spicy ones.
Meanwhile, some players are trying to see this as a potential testbed for new features. One response said it was “a testing ground for perks,” while others speculated that, if successful, “it could be made into a stand-alone mobile game (with micro transactions).” It’s not a far-fetched idea, with how many live-service games have changed directions according to player feedback.
And things went wild in the replies: semi-random smurfing debates, pleas for keyboard and mouse support on consoles, and a couple of voice asking for Tommy (Morlock) to be made playable. Because, naturally. Marvel Rivals community, probably, is one of the most passionate.
So what’s the verdict? Some players are fully going dual mode ditching regular lobby altogether for the new mode, while the others are praying their issues get fixed first. Where exactly will Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol go from its limited run depends so much on its reception within this limited availability. One thing is for sure: it’s a breath of fresh air in the constantly experimental environment that is Marvel Rivals. So, are you pumped for a round of THINK. ADAPT. DOMINATE?
