Marvel Rivals on PS4: NetEase Casts a Spell on Last-Gen Hardware (But Is There an Asterisk-Shaped Catch?)
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
NetEase Games is bringing *Marvel Rivals* to PS4 and PS4 Pro on September 12th, with surprisingly strong performance reported for the Pro (1440p, 60fps) and a more standard 1080p, 30fps for the base PS4, though an asterisk notes unverified specs.
Right, so I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. You know that feeling when you try to cast a teleportation spell, expect to land across the room, and instead find yourself in a dimension filled with disco-dancing goblins? That’s a bit like the news we just got about *Marvel Rivals* hitting the PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro.
Initially, I was like, 'Fair dinkum? They're still pouring development resources into hardware that’s older than my last pet rock?' But NetEase Games, bless their cotton socks, seems to have been brewing some serious performance potion behind the scenes. As reported by Game Rant, they’ve finally pulled back the curtain on just how well this hero shooter will run on Sony’s last-gen consoles, and frankly, some of the numbers are a bit of a head-scratcher – in the best possible way, for some, at least.
Now, for those of us who remember *Marvel Rivals* dropping in early December 2024, it was a shiny, new toy for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and high-end PCs. PS4 owners, meanwhile, were left out in the cold, probably muttering about how their ancient hardware could *totally* handle it if developers just *tried harder*. Well, try harder they did, apparently. Because come September 12th, *Marvel Rivals* is officially making its last-gen debut on the PS4. Which, by the way, doesn't give you much time to clear out those old *Fortnite* replays to make space.
Let’s get to the nitty-gritty, the digital runes, if you will. The basic PlayStation 4, a console that’s pushing 12 years old (seriously, where does the time go?), will run *Marvel Rivals* at 1080p resolution and a rather humble 30 frames per second. It’ll need 40 GB of storage, which is pretty standard for a modern competitive shooter. Now, 30fps in a fast-paced, team-based hero shooter? That’s… well, it’s certainly *playable*. Think of it as a retro filter, or maybe a slightly clunky time-dilation spell. For casual players, it’s probably fine. For those trying to climb the competitive ladder against PS5 or PC players rocking significantly higher framerates? That might feel like trying to duel a wizard with a broken wand. Every millisecond counts when you're dodging Rocket Raccoon's grenades, mate.
But here’s where things get really interesting, where NetEase seems to have found a rather potent enchantment: the PlayStation 4 Pro. This slightly more muscular sibling of the original PS4 is reportedly going to handle *Marvel Rivals* at a rather impressive 1440p resolution and a smooth 60 frames per second. Sixty! On a PS4 Pro! My inner digital wizard is practically doing a jig. That’s a serious performance leap, considering the Pro is still firmly in the 'last-gen' camp. To put that into perspective, the original article points out that these specs are practically identical to the *standard performance mode* that the game launched with on the PlayStation 5. The PS5 does have a 'High Framerate' mode that can apparently hit an eye-watering 1200fps (at a lower resolution, mind you), but still, the PS4 Pro holding its own at 60fps against the PS5's default? That’s genuinely quite the feat of optimisation, like conjuring a fully-formed dragon with half the mana.
Now, why the sudden push for last-gen support? It's a fair question to ask. After all, the console generation has well and truly moved on. One theory (and this is where my gentle skepticism kicks in) is simply reaching a wider player base. There are still millions of PS4s out there globally, and tapping into that market could mean a significant boost in active players for *Marvel Rivals*. More players, more potential Battle Pass sales, more cosmetic unlocks. It’s the cycle of live-service games, isn't it? It's not just about what's technically possible, but what makes good business sense. NetEase is a big player, and they clearly see value in bringing their Marvel-themed brawl to as many people as possible.
However, a crucial detail, tucked away like a hidden quest objective in the original Game Rant piece, is the little asterisk. It notes that 'not all the performance data has been officially verified.' Now, I don't want to be a killjoy, but when you hear about specs that seem almost *too* good to be true for aging hardware, and then you see an asterisk about verification, it raises an eyebrow. Is it just standard legal caution, or is there a tiny bit of wiggle room if, say, those 60fps on the Pro turn out to be more like 45fps during an intense 6v6 ultimate ability spam? We'll have to wait and see, won't we? My spellbook has a chapter dedicated to 'promises vs. reality,' and it’s a chunky one.
The timing of this PS4 launch is also rather clever. It coincides perfectly with the start of *Marvel Rivals* Season 4. This means new heroes (Angela is joining the roster!), new events, a fresh Battle Pass, and more arcade modes. So, if you’re a PS4 owner finally getting your hands on the game, you’re not starting on old content. You’re jumping straight into the thick of it, alongside everyone else. That’s a nice touch, a bit like finding a fully-charged mana potion at the start of a dungeon.
Overall, while my inner wizard is still a tad skeptical about the 'unverified' claims and what 30fps means for competitive play on the base PS4, I'm genuinely impressed by the reported PS4 Pro performance. It speaks to a dedication to optimisation that you don't always see in these cross-gen titles. NetEase seems to be trying to bridge the gap between console generations, and for that, I reckon they deserve a fair shake. We’ll just have to keep an eye on those framerates when September 12th rolls around, won't we? It's always an adventure when you're pushing hardware to its limits, mate. Let's hope it's more 'epic loot' and less 'system crash.'
*(Original source: Game Rant)*
Tags: MarvelRivals, PS4, PS4Pro, GamingTech, NetEase
Original article: Game Rant