Call Me Crazy, but I think Marvel Rivals' latest Deadpool Tease might be more than just a joke

Marvel Rivals is gearing up for its sixth batch of content, bringing to the roster the most anticipated post-launch hero to date. When Marvel Rivals Season 6 kicks off on December 6th and will bring with it the Merc With a Mouth, who will seemingly be voiced by Alejandro Saab as opposed to regular actor Nolan North. Players have already seen him in action against the evil dinosaur and other Marvel freaks collected by The Collector, and NetEase's distinct take on his character design – the exaggerated point on his loose mask and stylish jacket – has been well received. Despite all the hype and his release just 7 days away at the time of writing, his role remains unknown. However, the trailers for it have prepared an interesting opportunity.

As the weeks have passed since Deadpool's arrival was announced at The Game Awards, he's breaking the fourth wall and trolling Marvel Rivals players by changing his role in the hero select menu and hero gallery. Deadpool started out as a Duelist before changing to Strategist and Vanguard, with his role now depicted as a question mark. The debates about what role Deadpool will take on have been fun, with some even suggesting that he could switch between each role after death or have a hybrid role that is all his own. However, this is not the most interesting thing for me. Instead, it's Deadpool's final fourth wall that makes him appear as a map in the game's menus. I'm fully aware that this could be – and probably is – a NetEase joke, but just in case it isn't, I thought I'd call. I think Deadpool isn't just pretending to be a map, he actually will be one… or at least his mind will be.

How the Deadpool map could work for Marvel Rivals Season 6

It wouldn't be much of a challenge for NetEase to justify the Deadpool map. A simple answer would be to say that the characters were randomly thrown into the Deadpool-centric universe, while a more interesting approach might lean towards the Collector's hobby. Perhaps his museum contains a powerful device that allows people to enter and explore the minds of others and see things as they do. During Deadpool's fight with Elsa Bloodstone, the device could be triggered, revealing Wade Wilson's inner thoughts and creating a bold new arena to play in. This sort of thing seems even more likely given that Jeff the Land Shark received a dedicated map for the Winter Splash mode this year, with players having no problem accepting a field dedicated to the game's adorable mascot.

This kind of concept would be just as interesting for a character like Moon Knight as his fragmented mind could make a great map. The objective could involve a pilgrimage to visit Khonshu, while interacting with Steven Grant and Jake Lockley in the respective spawn rooms could be neat.

As for what this hypothetical Deadpool map might entail, there's plenty of room for humorous nods to Deadpool's history. Payloads that accompany players can be filled with chimichangas, while map locations can contain an endless stream of crazy sights and sounds. Potential points of interest for a Marvel Rivals map that shines a light on one of Marvel's most unhinged characters are as follows:

A training room with shoddily made dummies of Deadpool's sparring partners like Cable and Wolverine.
Stuffed animals and balloon floats of not only Deadpool, but also his comic book loved ones like his daughter Ellie, Lady Death, Valentine Vuong, Copycat and Shiklah.
Jeff The Land Shark may be thanks to Gwenpool, but Deadpool has a deep bond with the cute creature, as shown by the Deadpool Jeff add-on. Jeff's shrine somewhere on the map would do.
A suit display of Deadpool's various looks over the years that might tease future skins (fingers crossed for his gray X-Force outfit).
Unicorns, rainbows, and lots of guns everywhere to really sell the Deadpool vibe. Some silly messages left on the map by the man himself would be fun too.
The Deadpool Corps as NPCs in spawn rooms, acting as Spider-Zero in Tokyo 2099.

What the Deadpool map would mean for other Marvel Rivals teases

If Deadpool is listed as a map Marvel Rivals is a trailer and not a gag, then that would mean his role reversal was also hinting at something. Whether it's a hybrid character, switching roles with every life, or a completely new role with elements of every existing category is anyone's guess, but I'd definitely like to see Deadpool break the rules instead of becoming a Duelist like everyone expects.

While all the trolling on NetEase's part has been good fun, even if the studio ends up playing it safe, I'm sure they'll mix it up a bit via one of my favorite Marvel characters. Deadpool presents a unique opportunity to go against the grain that we won't really see again until fellow fourth-wall breaker She-Hulk, and even so, his unique sense of humor presents more opportunities for creativity. Hopefully Season 6 will take full advantage of all or anything Deadpool has to offer and add a Deadpool themed map alongside the man himself.