I stepped into Marvel Rivals and the Times Square screen was already humming. You could feel the small crowd tighten as a title card rolled across the big screen. For a moment I realized Marvel had quietly turned a social hub into a temporary theater.
People still gather around big public screens; the Times Square map now behaves like a tiny movie plaza.
I read the patch notes and then I went to check it myself: starting April 2, 2026 at 7 PM UTC, Marvel Rivals will stream episodes of Wonder Man on the Times Square “big screen.” The activity runs for a short window—available until April 16 at 3 AM UTC—with two daily showings: 7 PM UTC and 3 AM UTC.
This is a free, in-game screening, and you can watch with friends in the social hub. NetEase and Marvel Studios are clearly treating the map as more than décor; they’re testing whether appointment viewing in a live social space can nudge players toward the full series on Disney+ ($7.99 (€8) per month for the ad tier).
The Times Square hub has hosted trailer loops before; this is the first time it will show actual episodes.
Only the first two episodes of Wonder Man will run on the in-game screen. That’s a deliberate choice: give players a sample, create curiosity, then funnel attention back to Disney+. It’s a clever engagement play from NetEase—part community lure, part marketing pilot.
Do not expect any permanent change to existing features. The Disco Club and Clobberin Club broadcasts haven’t vanished; they were moved to other screens so the Times Square centerpiece can play Wonder Man uninterrupted.
How can I watch Wonder Man in Marvel Rivals?
Jump into Marvel Rivals, head to the Times Square social hub, and stand near the main display at one of the scheduled times—7 PM UTC or 3 AM UTC. If you want company, invite friends to your session and treat the showing like a watch party inside the game. I recommend arriving a few minutes early to stake out a spot; the in-game crowd forms fast.
Players expect easy ways to share media; this rollout feels like an experiment in social viewing.
The engineering here is simple but effective: put content where players already gather. Marvel Rivals leverages social mechanics—chat, emotes, presence—so the screening functions as an event rather than passive background noise. If you’ve watched cinematic drops on Twitch or synced streams on Discord, you’ll recognize the playbook.
The move also signals future possibilities: imagine full Marvel films or Avengers crossovers projected in that same plaza during larger collaborations. It’s a small test with a big behavior bet—will players come for a free sample and stay for the rest?
Which episodes are available and why only those?
Only episodes one and two are in rotation. Think of it as a trailer extended into two chapters: enough to hook interest, not enough to replace the subscription service. Marvel Studios and NetEase are using scarcity—limited dates and limited content—to create urgency. If you want the complete series, Disney+ is the destination for the remaining episodes.
Streaming platforms experiment constantly; this feels like a cross-promotion lab.
I’m watching this as both a fan and a reporter. Marvel Rivals is a NetEase product that’s borrowing Marvel Studios’ content and Disney+’s funnel. For players, the cost is zero inside the game; for Marvel and NetEase, the currency is attention. The hub becomes a stage, and the screen acts like a magnet pulling players in.
Is the screening free and will it affect my account?
Yes—the in-game screening is free and doesn’t require a Disney+ login to view the two episodes shown inside Marvel Rivals. It won’t affect your account balance or trigger an in-app purchase. If you decide to watch more on Disney+, you’ll need a subscription, currently $7.99 (€8) per month for the ad-supported tier.
I’ll be there on opening night to see how big the crowd gets and whether this nudges people toward the full series—will you join the watch party in-game or judge the series from two episodes on a shared screen?