Marvel Rivals Players Are Upset About How Skin Recolors Are Handled In The Game

Published Apr 17, 2025

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A new update to Marvel Rivals has brought a new color customization feature for certain skins, but the way the skin recolors are being handled in the game is upsetting a lot of players. The new skin recolor feature was added in the game's April 17 update, and it allows s to customize the colors of some of the purchasable skins in the game, but the feature is not free, and the cost is much higher than fans may have been expecting.

In a series of posts by the Marvel Rivals X , the developers provided more details regarding the new feature. There is a new option in the store to purchase an unlock for color customization, but a follow-up post clarified that each color customization unlock will cost 600 Unstable Molecules, and fans are not happy (via GamesRadar+). Players over on a Reddit thread started by G-gianluk are actively expressing their displeasure over the high cost of changing colors despite already having to pay for the base skins.

Marvel Rivals Recolors Are Bought With A New Currency

Unstable Molecules Can Be Exchanged With Lattice

Currently, players must exchange Lattice, which is the currency used to purchase each season's Battle (and it can also be exchanged for Units, which are used to purchase in-game cosmetics), for the new currency, the Unstable Molecules. The price of 600 Lattice to be exchanged for 600 Unstable Molecules is around $6 USD, so currently, one skin recolor will cost $6. That's not including the price of the base skins themselves, which are purchased with Units. There are several ways to get the various currencies in Season 2 of Marvel Rivals, but another currency is likely confusing.

Marvel Rivals Cerebro from Krakoa map with Flora Maiden Mantis skin from Cerebro Database event

Marvel Rivals: Cerebro Database Event & Rewards Guide

The newest limited-time event in Marvel Rivals is the Cerebro Database in Season 2, where you can complete objectives for a free Mantis skin.

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It's also worth noting that there are only a few base skins that currently have the option to recolor them. More will be added over time. Additionally, there will be more ways to earn Unstable Molecules when Season 3 begins, which will likely be sometime this summer, and that season will be the first to incorporate the new character release strategy for Marvel Rivals as well.

Marvel Rivals Falls Into An Overwatch Pitfall

Other Games Are Also Charging For Recolors

Marvel Rivals is not the first free-to-play hero-shooter to charge for recolors of base skins. Overwatch 2 has also been charging players for recolors, some of which were also rewards in that game's Battle . Apex Legends also charges for recolors. So, this isn't exactly a new practice for hero-shooters, but given how well-received Marvel Rivals' monetization practices have been, with all gameplay features, characters, and maps being available for free, fans may have expected NetEase Games to go a different route.

A huge chunk of Overwatch players jumped to Marvel Rivals when the game released back in December, a lot of which was out of frustration because of changes from the original game and the desire to experience something new in the hero-shooter space. Marvel Rivals does allow for more opportunities for earning in-game currency than most free-to-play games, and with the promise of new ways to earn the Unstable Molecules in Season 3, hopefully, this is just a temporary setback as skin recolors find their place in Marvel Rivals.