Marvel Rivals has never been afraid to experiment with its gameplay. Since launch, the game has introduced numerous limited-time modes that have changed the usual hero shooter formula, ranging from seasonal PvP experiences like Jeff's Winter Splash Festival to cooperative PvE content such as Marvel Zombies. The ongoing Path to Doomsday event has also introduced another unusual experience, with players currently taking on an extremely powerful Ultron.

However, a racing mode would take that experimentation in a completely different direction.On August 5, well-known Marvel Rivals dataminer X0XLEAK claimed that new files and an in-game vehicle model had been added to the game. According to the leak, the files appear to point toward a functional vehicle system being developed for Marvel Rivals.

There is currently very little information about what the system is actually intended for, and X0XLEAK stressed that the feature is subject to change. The discovery doesn't necessarily mean that a racing mode will ever make it into the finished game.A second leak shortly afterward provided some additional evidence.

RivalsInfo shared a short video showing a car driving around Hellfire Bay Beach, one of Marvel Rivals' social areas. The vehicle appears to be an early placeholder, with very basic visuals and several obvious technical problems. The camera repeatedly clips into the ground beneath the car, suggesting that the system is still very early in development.

RivalsInfo also speculated that the vehicle could eventually be used in a "Formula R" racing mode.

Marvel Rivals has already introduced several Formula R-themed skins. Psylocke was the first character to receive a Formula R outfit in October 2025, followed by Thor and Squirrel Girl. Luna Snow later received a Formula R skin with three different styles, while Black Cat was given her own racing-inspired outfit shortly afterward.

If a racing mode is actually being developed, those cosmetics could suddenly have a much greater purpose.

A Marvel-themed racing mode could also give NetEase plenty of opportunities to build something substantially different from the game's normal combat. Rather than simply putting heroes into another traditional PvP arena, players could potentially race around dedicated tracks while using character-specific abilities or vehicles.

This theory isn't completely out of nowhere but for now, it's entirely speculations.

The only concrete evidence is the apparent vehicle system found in the game's files and the footage showing a car functioning within Hellfire Bay Beach. There is no official confirmation from NetEase that a Formula R mode is coming, and the vehicle system could ultimately be abandoned or used for something completely different.

Leaks surrounding Marvel Rivals have nevertheless proven unusually interesting in the past. The game is heavily datamined, and X0XLEAK has previously revealed numerous characters and features well before their official announcements.

That doesn't make every leak accurate, but it does make the discovery worth keeping an eye on.

For now, Marvel Rivals players will have to wait and see whether the mysterious vehicle system eventually turns into a full racing experience—or simply remains an interesting experiment buried inside the game's files.