Marvel Games is no stranger to cross-promotional brilliance, and its latest tactical move with Marvel Rivals demonstrates this strategy in full flame. In a powerful homage to the impending cinematic arrival of Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel Rivals has unveiled a brand-new team-up move featuring two of Marvel’s most iconic heroes: the Human Torch and The Thing. Titled “First Steps,” the new ability will officially launch on July 24 — perfectly timed to coincide with the release of the film in theaters this weekend.
As fans await both the game’s next major update and Marvel Studios’ reintroduction of the Fantastic Four into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), this tie-in provides a compelling bridge between the gaming and film worlds. With strategic synergy, clever marketing, and gameplay innovation, Marvel Rivals continues to establish itself as a major force in the superhero gaming genre — and this latest reveal might just be its most exciting crossover yet.
The Fantastic Four Make Their Mark in Marvel Rivals
Since its announcement, Marvel Rivals Bundles has carved a place for itself as a highly anticipated multiplayer action game featuring beloved characters from across the Marvel multiverse. Developed with team-based tactics in mind, it offers an experience that is part hero shooter, part action brawler, and all-out Marvel mayhem.
The addition of Fantastic Four characters — particularly the spotlight on Human Torch and The Thing — is significant for multiple reasons. Not only are these characters central to the upcoming film reboot, but they’ve long been underrepresented in recent Marvel games, often overshadowed by the more mainstream Avengers or X-Men rosters.
Now, with Marvel Rivals adding them into the fold and giving them an exclusive synergy move, fans of Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm finally get their due. The “First Steps” ability not only adds depth to the gameplay but also reinforces Marvel’s renewed emphasis on the First Family of superheroes.
The “First Steps” Team-Up Move: What We Know
Set to go live on July 24, the “First Steps” ability is a co-op maneuver that allows Human Torch and The Thing to unleash a devastating combo attack. While exact mechanics are still being teased, early gameplay snippets and developer comments suggest the move will involve Human Torch igniting The Thing mid-charge, transforming him into a literal battering ram of molten rock and flame.
Visually, it promises to be one of the most cinematic moves in the game — a blistering flash of collaborative power that leverages both characters’ unique abilities in tandem. The attack appears to be designed for area-of-effect (AoE) crowd control, potentially ideal for breaking enemy lines or controlling key zones on the battlefield.
More than just a powerful attack, “First Steps” is a symbolic gesture — representing the first appearance of the Fantastic Four in Marvel Rivals, and perhaps even hinting at deeper narrative content or campaign integration down the line.
A Clever Tie-In With the Film
What makes this reveal particularly smart is its timing. Fantastic Four: First Steps, the latest entry in the ever-evolving MCU, arrives in theaters this weekend. Billed as a fresh origin story with a younger cast and a modernized tone, the film has been surrounded by intense speculation and hype. By releasing the team-up move on July 24 — days after the movie’s premiere — Marvel Rivals positions itself to ride the wave of audience excitement.
This synergy between gaming and film is no accident. Marvel has increasingly embraced transmedia storytelling, where fans who enjoy the movies can immediately engage with the same characters in interactive experiences. This approach expands the Marvel brand ecosystem while giving players a tangible connection to the big-screen heroes they love.
For Marvel Rivals, this move is likely to attract both core Marvel fans and casual gamers looking to extend their Fantastic Four experience beyond the cinema. It’s a cross-promotional win-win that showcases Marvel’s growing expertise in integrated entertainment.
Human Torch and The Thing: A Dynamic Duo Reignited
While Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman may bring finesse and strategy to the team, it’s always been Johnny and Ben who bring the fire (sometimes literally) and brawn. Their dynamic — brash, brotherly, and often hilarious — has long been a cornerstone of the Fantastic Four’s enduring appeal.
In Marvel Rivals, that relationship translates into gameplay mechanics built around synergy and timing. Human Torch (Johnny Storm) is expected to function as a high-speed, high-damage DPS character, zipping through the battlefield and unleashing bursts of flame. The Thing (Ben Grimm), on the other hand, is the classic tank — slow but indomitable, capable of soaking up damage and clearing paths through sheer force.
“First Steps” capitalizes on this contrast, allowing players to execute a move that is only possible when the two characters work in concert. This not only rewards team coordination but also mirrors the characters’ own personal growth in the MCU — learning to trust and rely on one another as part of a team.
A New Era for Fantastic Four in Gaming
The inclusion of the Fantastic Four in Marvel Rivals might seem like a logical decision, but it's more meaningful when considering their relatively sparse presence in modern video games. While Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Wolverine have enjoyed a wealth of solo and ensemble adventures, the Fantastic Four have largely been absent from the gaming spotlight since the mid-2000s.
This makes Marvel Rivals something of a reintroduction — an opportunity for a new generation of gamers to experience the powers and personalities of Marvel’s original super-team. The move may also signal a larger trend: as the MCU embraces the Fantastic Four, Marvel Games is clearly eager to follow suit, integrating them more prominently into the interactive realm.
Fans are already speculating about what this could mean for the future. Could a dedicated Fantastic Four campaign be in the works? Will we see Doctor Doom or Galactus as playable characters or raid bosses? Could “First Steps” be the first of many collaborative abilities among the Four?
Only time will tell — but the groundwork has been laid.
Marvel Rivals: The Bigger Picture
Beyond the excitement around this one team-up move, the “First Steps” ability underscores the core philosophy of Marvel Rivals: cooperation, coordination, and creativity. By building characters with combo potentials and team synergies, the developers are encouraging players to think beyond solo playstyles and engage more deeply with the roster as a whole.
In a market crowded with competitive shooters and team brawlers, Marvel Rivals sets itself apart by infusing each match with narrative depth and superhero flair. It’s not just about dealing damage or scoring points — it’s about embodying your favorite heroes and working together to overcome chaos.
The addition of “First Steps” adds emotional resonance to this approach. It's not just a move; it's a moment. One that reflects the characters' arcs, the broader Marvel story, and the evolving capabilities of gaming technology to bring such cinematic flourishes to life.
The Future of Team-Ups in Marvel Rivals
If “First Steps” proves successful — and all signs suggest it will — players can expect more collaborative abilities between heroes in future updates. Imagine what could be possible with team-ups like:
Wolverine and Deadpool: A brutal, fast-paced combo filled with regeneration and chaos.
Storm and Magneto: Weather meets magnetism in an ultimate crowd-control display.
Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange: A reality-warping support burst that disorients enemies and reshapes the battlefield.
These kinds of abilities add layers of strategy and spectacle that elevate Marvel Rivals beyond traditional PvP fare. And if Marvel Games continues tying these updates into the MCU’s release schedule, fans will be in for a treat every time a new film drops cheap Marvel Rivals skins.
Final Thoughts: A Fiery Beginning
With “First Steps,” Marvel Rivals does more than just release another flashy ability — it reignites interest in the Fantastic Four and reaffirms Marvel’s ability to harmonize across media. Human Torch and The Thing’s team-up isn’t just a gimmick; it’s a milestone, one that marks the first step (pun intended) in what could be a bright future for Marvel’s First Family in gaming.
As fans head to theaters to witness the Fantastic Four’s big-screen rebirth, they’ll now have the opportunity to live out their own superhero story in the digital battlefield of Marvel Rivals. Whether you’re a longtime Marvel devotee or a newcomer just discovering the cosmic charm of Johnny and Ben, July 24 promises to be a day worth marking — because the next chapter of superhero gaming is about to go supernova.