Yes, “The Thong” is real—sort of.
Marvel Rivals is turning up the heat. The team-based shooter from NetEase has officially launched its Summer Special Event, bringing a full lineup of vacation-ready skins, tongue-in-cheek cosmetics, and beachside chaos to players starting July 17. And yes—the long-memed, heavily thirsted-over “Thong” skin for The Thing is part of the event… sort of.
From Infinity Comic to In-Game: The Thing in Swimwear
The now-iconic “Sunshine Thing” skin was first teased in Marvel Rivals: Infinity Comic, a digital tie-in series expanding the game’s lore and characters. One panel in particular caught fire with fans: The Thing lounging in a skimpy swimsuit on a beach. Dubbed “The Thong” by the Marvel Rivals community, the image went instantly viral—equal parts joke, thirst trap, and wishful thinking.
Now, the swimsuit has made the jump from comic panel to playable cosmetic. As part of the Summer Special event pass, players can unlock the Sunshine Thing skin—though it’s technically a Speedo, not quite the minimal thong fans had memed into existence. Still, that hasn’t stopped the internet from celebrating. “THE THONG IS REAL,” wrote one player on X. Another added, “This is the dumbest skin possible for the Thing. All this looks like is a change of underwear.” And yet? It’s probably the most talked-about cosmetic the game has seen all season.
What Else Is in the Summer Special?
The event includes three swimsuit-themed skins, unlocked across a free and premium battle pass system. Unlike standard season passes, the Summer Special’s content will remain available even after the event ends on August 15, letting players complete unlocks at their own pace.
Here’s what’s on offer:
Page One – Sunshine Thing
- Sunshine Thing Skin (Premium)
- Emote, spray, and nameplate (Free)
- 200 Unstable Molecules (Free)
Page Two – Worthy Waves Thor
- Worthy Waves Thor Skin (Free)
- Emote, spray, MVP animation (Free)
- 200 Unstable Molecules (Free)
Page Three – Cool Summer Luna
- Cool Summer Luna Skin (Premium)
- MVP animation and new visual effects (Premium)
- Emote, spray, nameplate (Free)
The pass costs 690 Lattice (around $7), and includes dozens of extras, like emoji bundles and collectible gallery cards. Skins like Luna Snow’s come with special ability effects, adding an extra incentive for completionists and casual players alike.
More Skins—and Memes—on the Way
Though only three characters are featured in the first wave, the Infinity Comic and recent leaks suggested more swimsuit skins could arrive throughout Season 3. Now we know that they were waiting for season 4, here’s what’s coming.
Who’s in Wave 2?
It’s another sexy and stylish collection that’ll please both the fans who are in it for the fashion and the fan service. Unless your favourite hero got passed over, in that case it looks like you’ll just have to wait for next summer (or Halloween if you don’t mind a spooky skin instead).