A new update toMarvel Rivalshas brought a new color customization feature for certain skins, but the way the skin recolors are being handled in the game is upsetting a lot of players. The new skin recolor feature was added in the game’s April 17 update, and it allows users to customize the colors of some of the purchasable skins in the game, but the feature is not free, and the cost is much higher than fans may have been expecting.
In a series of posts by theMarvel RivalsX account, the developers provided more details regarding the new feature. There is a new option in the store to purchase an unlock for color customization, but afollow-up postclarifiedthat each color customization unlock will cost 600 Unstable Molecules, and fans are not happy (viaGamesRadar+). Players over on a Reddit thread started by userG-gianlukare actively expressing their displeasure over the high cost of changing colors despite already having to pay for the base skins.
Marvel Rivals Recolors Are Bought With A New Currency
Unstable Molecules Can Be Exchanged With Lattice
Currently, players must exchange Lattice, which is the currency used to purchase each season’s Battle Pass (and it can also be exchanged for Units, which are used to purchase in-game cosmetics), for the new currency, the Unstable Molecules. Theprice of 600 Lattice to be exchanged for 600 Unstable Molecules is around $6 USD, so currently, one skin recolor will cost $6. That’s not including the price of the base skins themselves, which are purchased with Units. There are several ways to get thevarious currencies in Season 2 ofMarvel Rivals, but another currency is likely confusing.
It’s also worth noting that there are only a few base skins that currently have the option to recolor them. More will be added over time. Additionally, there will bemore ways to earn Unstable Molecules when Season 3 begins, which will likely be sometime this summer, and that season will be the first to incorporate thenew character release strategy forMarvel Rivalsas well.
Marvel Rivals Falls Into An Overwatch Pitfall
Other Games Are Also Charging For Recolors
Marvel Rivalsis not the first free-to-play hero-shooter to charge for recolors of base skins.Overwatch 2has also been charging players for recolors, some of which were also rewards in that game’s Battle Pass.Apex Legendsalso charges for recolors. So, this isn’t exactly a new practice for hero-shooters, but given how well-receivedMarvel Rivals' monetization practices have been, with all gameplay features, characters, and maps being available for free, fans may have expected NetEase Games to go a different route.
A huge chunk ofOverwatchplayers jumped toMarvel Rivalswhen the game released back in December, a lot of which was out of frustration because of changes from the original game and the desire to experience something new in the hero-shooter space.Marvel Rivalsdoes allow for more opportunities for earning in-game currency than most free-to-play games, and with the promise of new ways to earn the Unstable Molecules in Season 3, hopefully, this is just a temporary setback as skin recolors find their place inMarvel Rivals.
