Competitive esports scenes can't just be forced into existence, they have to be wanted and desired by a launch portion of the community, and it's because of this that Marvel Rivals always seemed like a strange situation. While there are plenty of fans of the game, shortly after launch it became apparent that a big esports circuit was being prioritised, something that drew the attention of many major esports organisations, despite the fact that the live-service game hadn't yet been around long enough to determine if its community will support such an endeavour.
Now, nearing a year down the line, Marvel Rivals is a fraction of the multiplayer behemoth that it was at launch, and the esports circuit, while enjoyed by many, hasn't taken off in the way that many would have hoped, which is no doubt a leading reason as to why 100 Thieves has decided it's time to make change.
In a statement, 100 Thieves explains that it is releasing its competitive Marvel Rivals roster. The exact reason isn't provided, only that it will continue working with NetEase to be a "vanguard in the ecosystem" in 2026 and beyond and that it is "committed to fielding championship caliber teams and contributing to the growth of new titles within the esports landscape."
