Marvel Rivals players waited a year for a free Emma Frost skin, and now they’re disappointed. Last year, Emma Frost won the popular vote, and NetEase promised a new skin for her. Now that the skin has been revealed, players are far from happy.
In a way, Marvel Rivals shows that even free skins can miss the mark. The community has raised numerous complaints about the skin design, from the outfit to the makeup. Some players have even gone as far as to ask for a different designer. With just a week until release, any major changes are unlikely.
“We waited a year for this?” is a common sentiment in the community at the moment. However, the situation may not be as bad as it seems.
Marvel Rivals players are disappointed with a free Emma Frost skin
Emma Frost’s skins have been quite controversial since her release in Season 2. The design of the White Queen’s outfits is mostly criticized for hairstyles or shoulder pads. While the latest skin is quite different from the rest, it doesn’t seem to be good enough for many players.
NetEase has recently revealed the upcoming Hellfire Gala skin for Emma, confirming that it will be free as part of the upcoming event pass. Instead of excitement, this announcement sparked a wave of backlash. Despite this being a free skin tied to a community vote event, the player reaction has been surprisingly negative.
The upcoming skin is a redesigned version of Emma’s outfit seen in Marauders (2019) #21. While it’s clear that the free Marvel Rivals skin is based on it, there are several differences, and this is what bothers most players.
The majority of the community complains about Emma Frost’s cape, which looks quite basic in her upcoming skin. In the comics, her cape is attached to her wrist, which is not the case with the game. Replicating the comic-book version of the character would likely be impossible in the game due to hitbox and clipping issues. As a result, NetEase found the middle ground, which still looks good, yet is also viable in the game.
While the skin is relatively faithful, many players expected something more striking. Some players even complained about her lipstick, despite it being an accurate detail. Others feel the design is “too basic” and expected it to stand out more.
How do you like Emma Frost’s free skin?
Fortunately, the Hellfire Gala 2026 event pass brings new skins for Phoenix and Moon Knight, so they might get a better reception. This year, NetEase is offering a choice of five heroes for the community vote: Rogue, Psylocke, Storm, Namor, and Magneto. The hero who wins the vote will get a skin in Hellfire Gala 2027.
Outside of the new in-game event, Marvel Rivals developer is offering a free Thor skin for a limited time, as well as other cosmetics through codes. Until April 28, players can get bonus Lattices in Marvel Rivals, which can help them buy more cosmetics and the Season 7 Battle Pass.
