It feels like Season 8 only just began, but it’s already time to start looking towards Season 8.5, and for good reason! We already know that the leader of the X-Men himself, Cyclops, is arriving as the next playable character, and the entire fanbase just cannot wait for him to join the roster.
Season 8 started off well with Devil Dinosaur as the latest Vanguard, and he’s certainly shifted the meta in more ways than one—for better and for worse. Many will be hoping that Cyclops will have a similar effect, though the arrival of a new Season is bound to bring with it a new wave of buffs and nerfs as well.
For details on when Season 8 of Marvel Rivals ends, as well as when Season 8.5 kicks off, you’re in the right place.
When Does Marvel Rivals Season 8 End, & Season 8.5 Start?
As announced in the Season 8 roadmap, the current Marvel Rivals season will end on June 12, with Season 8.5 kicking off right where it left off.
Season 7.5 was the shortest Season we’ve had yet in Marvel Rivals, with the entire thing wrapped up in just four weeks! Well, it seems like NetEase is maintaining that trend, as the first half of Season 8 is just as long!
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It’s honestly miraculous how fast they churn out new heroes and content in Marvel Rivals, especially with the regular events, game modes and skin bundles. That said, with the amount of history running through the Marvel mythos, the development team shouldn’t run out of new content anytime soon—especially if they’re still releasing heavy hitters like Cyclops over a year in!
Marvel Rivals Season 8.5 Start Times
Using other Marvel Rivals seasons as a guideline, it’s reasonable to assume that Season 8.5 will begin on June 12, 2026, at 3 AM PT.
A new season is always the most exciting time to play Marvel Rivals, and the arrival of Cyclops is bound to be one of the best we’ve seen yet. The hype is already through the roof after the Season 8 trailer that introduced him, so to finally play as him is bound to be a special moment for countless Marvel fans out there.
If you’re desperate to play as the new hero day one, here’s the exact moment Season 8.5 should go live across the world:
| Region / Time Zone | Marvel Rivals Season 8.5 Release Times |
|---|---|
| Pacific Time (PT) | 3:00 AM—June 12 |
| Central Time (CT) | 4:00 AM—June 12 |
| Eastern Time (ET) | 6:00 AM—June 12 |
| Brasilia Time (BRT) | 7:00 AM—June 12 |
| British Summer Time (BST) | 11:00 AM—June 12 |
| Central European Summer Time (CEST) | 12:00 PM—June 12 |
| China Standard Time (CST) | 6:00 PM—June 12 |
| Korean Standard Time (KST) | 7:00 PM—June 12 |
| Japan Standard Time (JST) | 7:00 PM—June 12 |
| Australian Eastern Time (AET) | 8:00 PM—June 12 |
| New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) | 10:00 PM—June 12 |
Everything We Know About Cyclops So Far
The details surrounding Cyclops remain fairly vague, as it’s still unclear which role he will play in Marvel Rivals.
Many are hoping that the X-Men leader will fill in as a Vanguard, with many crying out for more appealing tank options. It wouldn’t get more enticing than Cyclops, but there’s still a chance he could arrive as a Duelist, with some even predicting him to be a Strategist!
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Until we know his role for sure, it’s tough to predict how he’ll play in-game, though one thing that’s practically a guarantee is that his kit will undoubtedly revolve around his optic beams. He’s seen blasting countless Alchemax robots in the original trailer, and he does try to protect Moon Girl, further fuelling the Vanguard suspicions.
Time will shortly tell, as a character trailer will release a few days before Season 8.5 begins. Expect details to begin to arrive on June 8, including information regarding the latest buffs and nerfs to the rest of the roster.
Are you excited for Season 8.5 of Marvel Rivals? Share your thoughts in the official Insider Gaming Discord Server.
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Charlie is one of Insider Gaming's Guides Writers who's been in the gaming industry for a little over a year. Unfortunately for him, he enjoys every video game genre out…
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