The Marvel Swimsuit Special is Coming to Marvel Rivals

Summary
- Marvel announced the revival of the Swimsuit Special, with a bonus for Marvel Rivals fans.
- The upcoming Swimsuit Special issue will introduce swimwear skins for Marvel Rivals.
Marvel has announced the surprise return of the Swimsuit Special, with a bonus for Marvel Rivals fans. Nearly 30 years have passed since the comic book giant last released the swimsuit-themed one-shot, but the series now seems set for a revival. For the uninitiated, the Swimsuit Special is an annual standalone issue that features Marvel superheroes in stylish swimwear, paired with a lighthearted story explaining how they ended up in those eye-catching outfits. This time, though, the returning comic will also include some unexpected treats for Marvel Rivals players.
News of fresh cosmetics comes as Marvel Rivals faces backlash over its costume color feature, which is partially locked behind microtransactions. Fans aren’t happy that changing the color of an owned costume could cost up to $6 under the current system. Still, some have argued that monetizing features like this is expected in a free-to-play game designed to be profitable. Amid the ongoing debate over the game’s cosmetic system, Marvel has revealed that a batch of new cosmetics is on the way.

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The release of The Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes, Rivals #1 will also mark the debut of the first swimwear skins in Marvel Rivals. According to the official blog post, the issue will introduce themed skins designed specifically for NetEase Games’ hero shooter. There’s no word yet on which characters will receive the new outfits, and no images have been shared so far. However, with the Swimsuit Special set to launch next week, fans likely won’t have to wait long for a full reveal.
Marvel Rivals Might Get Swimsuit Skins Soon
It’s still unclear how the new Swimsuit Special-inspired skins will be introduced in the game. Previously, Marvel Rivals’ Valentine’s Day skins arrived alongside a limited-time event, which sparked its own controversy due to poor matchmaking and other issues. It’s possible the swimwear-themed skins could follow a similar rollout. That said, this approach would only make sense if the upcoming cosmetics are free or at least include some free variants.
2025 is already shaping up to be a big year for Marvel Rivals. NetEase Games doesn’t seem content with just short-term events and appears to be planning even bigger surprises for fans. The developer previously shared Marvel Rivals’ roadmap for Seasons 3 and 4, which was well received by the community. Now, the popular hero shooter also has the Swimsuit Special collaboration set to drop soon, which could be one of its most popular updates yet.

Marvel Rivals
- Released
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December 6, 2024
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
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NetEase Games
- Publisher(s)
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NetEase Games
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5