Overview
- NetEase and Marvel confirmed on Aug. 4 that Season 9.5, titled The Mystery of Thebes, will launch on August 7 and add Parker Robbins, the Hood, as a new Vanguard playable character.
- The Hood’s kit lets players switch between human and demon forms, fire sustained frontal cover with twin pistols, use a mystical cloak to create protective shields and warped barrier orbs, and transform into a full 'Gun Demon' Ultimate whose piercing rounds pass through shields and grant nearby allies bonus health.
- WWE star Damian Priest (Luis Berrios) voices the Hood, a casting detail announced in the official Dev Vision and press release that links the game’s reveal to broader pop‑culture crossovers.
- Season 9.5 will also roll out new cosmetics and events, with a second wave of Swimsuit Special skins and the Krakoan Reels Summer Festival Vol. 2 arriving on August 13 and customizable Lady Loki animations added to the store.
- Developers are implementing a texture compression overhaul that will require a larger initial download for the update but will reduce installed size by about 40 GB on PC and roughly 15 GB on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and full patch notes and hero balance changes will be published with the launch.