Marvel Rivals rings in 2026 with Chrono-Rush (plus quick Battle Pass catch-up guide)

Meta description: Today’s gaming recap: Marvel Rivals’ Version 20260101 brings Chrono-Rush and fixes; plus a practical Battle Pass catch-up guide and mistakes to avoid.

Quick Summary

Marvel Rivals shipped Version 20260101 on January 1, 2026 (09:00 UTC) with the Chrono-Rush Battle Pass catch-up event, store updates, traversal emote changes, and multiple bug fixes (no downtime listed). ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Marvel Rivals (previous holiday patch context): the Times Square New Year window runs through January 3, 2026 (NY local time) for an in-game title via mail, and the PlayStation Cup format update is slated Jan–Mar 2026. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251224/41548_1278404.html))
eFootball: Konami states there is no Live Update scheduled for Jan 1–7, 2026, so player Condition is based on the Dec 25, 2025 Live Update rating. ([konami.com](https://www.konami.com/efootball/en-us/topic/news/4658))

Today’s Gaming News Highlights

Marvel Rivals: Version 20260101 adds Chrono-Rush + quality fixes

Patch timing: The update is scheduled to drop on January 1, 2026 at 09:00 UTC with no server downtime mentioned. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
New Event – Chrono-Rush: A Battle Pass catch-up event that grants extra Chrono Tokens by playing matches, with no upper limit on earnings. Runs Jan 1, 2026 09:00 UTC to Jan 16, 2026 09:00 UTC. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Luxury Battle Pass change: The final page includes an option to exchange Chrono Tokens for Accessory Points. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Store rotation (UTC): “Loki – Lady Loki Bundle” is listed as limited-time Jan 2, 2026 02:00 to Jan 30, 2026 02:00, alongside additional bundles and new animations (available starting Jan 2, 2026 02:00 UTC). ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Traversal emotes standardized: Traversal emotes now move forward only; direction changes come from camera adjustment. Star-Lord’s “Wooden Whizbang” traversal emote gets a smoothing pass. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Bug fixes: Includes a Times Square countdown display fix and hero-specific fixes for Angela, Rogue, and Emma Frost. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))

Marvel Rivals: New Year map timing (don’t miss the window)

If you’re chasing the New Year in-game reward timing: the prior official notes specify that from Jan 1, 2026 00:00 to Jan 3, 2026 00:00 (NY local time), entering Times Square awards the “New Year 2026” title via in-game mail. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251224/41548_1278404.html))

eFootball: No Live Update scheduled Jan 1–7, 2026

Konami’s official notice states no Live Update is scheduled for 01/01/2026–01/07/2026 (all devices). Player Condition is determined using the Live Update Rating from 12/25/2025. ([konami.com](https://www.konami.com/efootball/en-us/topic/news/4658))

Guide Corner (How-to / Walkthrough / Rules / Strategy)

Marvel Rivals: How to use Chrono-Rush to finish your Battle Pass faster (without burnout)

Chrono-Rush is explicitly designed as a catch-up event: you earn extra Chrono Tokens by playing matches, and the patch notes emphasize there’s no upper limit during the event window (Jan 1–Jan 16, 2026, UTC). ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))

Step-by-step plan

1) Confirm your window (UTC): Chrono-Rush runs from January 1, 2026 09:00 UTC to January 16, 2026 09:00 UTC. If you play across regions, set a reminder based on UTC so you don’t miss the final hours. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
2) Prioritize “more matches played” over “perfect matches”: Since the event is described as “Play more, earn more,” your best gains typically come from a consistent queue routine rather than long breaks waiting for the ideal party/comp. (No need to chase risky hero picks just to “hard carry.”) ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
3) If you have Luxury Battle Pass, budget your overflow: The last page adds an option to exchange Chrono Tokens for Accessory Points. That means once you’re on pace to finish the pass, extra tokens still have value—so keep playing if you want accessories rather than stopping the moment you hit your last unlock. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
4) Re-learn traversal emotes (movement consistency changed): With traversal emotes standardized to forward-only movement, treat them like a “commit forward” option; you’ll adjust facing using camera rather than expecting sideways/back drift. This matters if you used traversal emotes for micro-positioning habits. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
5) Spend with dates in mind: Some store items rotate in at Jan 2, 2026 02:00 UTC (e.g., Lady Loki bundle listing). If you’re saving currency, decide whether your priority is cosmetics or progression/accessories before you start dumping tokens/resources. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))

Common Mistakes

Mixing time zones: Chrono-Rush uses UTC in the official notes. Don’t assume it ends “end of day” in your local time on Jan 16—it ends at 09:00 UTC. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Ignoring the “no upper limit” implication: Players often stop after hitting a daily-feeling target. This event is explicitly framed as unlimited during the window—consistent sessions matter. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Over-optimizing match quality: Waiting for the “perfect” stack can reduce total matches played, undercutting a play-more event.
Forgetting traversal emote behavior changed: If you relied on odd angle movement, the forward-only standardization can throw off positioning until you re-train your camera steering. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Not claiming time-limited map rewards in time: The Times Square entry/title window (NY local time) ends at January 3, 2026 00:00 per the earlier official post—easy to miss during holiday travel. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251224/41548_1278404.html))

Advanced Tips

Use “accessory conversion” as your late-pass motivator: If the Luxury Battle Pass exchange is relevant to you, keep playing after finishing core rewards so tokens don’t feel “wasted.” ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Patch-day warmup: If a patch changes movement-related behavior (like traversal emotes), do a few low-stakes games first to rebuild muscle memory before ranked/competitive sessions. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Plan around store timers: If you care about the Lady Loki bundle timing, note it’s listed as Jan 2–Jan 30, 2026 (UTC). Decide early so you don’t make regret buys right before it rotates out. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))

How to research better (Checklist)

Start with official patch notes/changelogs (look for version number + timestamp + platform notes). ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Write down the time standard used (UTC vs local time) and convert once, carefully.
Check event windows and list them with exact start/end times (avoid “ends Friday”). ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Confirm platform wording (e.g., “All Platforms” vs “Console”) so you don’t misreport scope. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))
Cross-check one secondary source only when needed (for readability/aggregation), but keep official notes as the authority.

FAQ (5–8 Qs)

1) What’s the big update today?

Marvel Rivals shipped Version 20260101, adding the Chrono-Rush Battle Pass catch-up event, store updates, traversal emote standardization, and bug fixes. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))

2) When does Chrono-Rush start and end?

It runs from January 1, 2026, 09:00 UTC to January 16, 2026, 09:00 UTC. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))

3) Is there a cap on Chrono Tokens earned during Chrono-Rush?

The official notes say you can earn extra Chrono Tokens by playing matches with “no upper limit.” ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))

4) What changed about traversal emotes?

Traversal emotes are standardized to move forward only; you change facing direction by adjusting your camera. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))

5) What’s the Lady Loki bundle timing?

The official store listing shows Jan 2, 2026 02:00 UTC to Jan 30, 2026 02:00 UTC. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251230/41548_1279465.html))

6) Can I still get the “New Year 2026” title in Marvel Rivals?

The earlier official notes state you must enter Times Square between Jan 1, 2026 00:00 and Jan 3, 2026 00:00 (NY local time) to receive it via in-game mail. ([marvelrivals.com](https://www.marvelrivals.com/gameupdate/20251224/41548_1278404.html))

7) Is eFootball getting a Live Update this week?

Konami states no Live Update is scheduled for 01/01/2026–01/07/2026 (all devices). ([konami.com](https://www.konami.com/efootball/en-us/topic/news/4658))