- Marvel 1943 Rise of Hydra who do you play as: You control four playable heroes in a WWII story.
- Confirmed leads: Steve Rogers' Captain America and Azzuri, the 1940s Black Panther.
- Supporting cast: Howard Stark and a Wakandan spy round out the roster.
- Structure: A single-player, narrative-driven adventure switching between characters.
- Status: Delayed past early 2026 — expect a late 2026 or 2027 release.
Who Do You Play As in Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra?
When fans ask "Marvel 1943 Rise of Hydra who do you play as," the answer is one of the game's biggest selling points: four playable heroes teaming up against Hydra in Nazi-occupied Paris and across World War II settings. Announced by Skydance Games and led by writer-director Amy Hennig (Uncharted, Legacy of Kain), the game was first teased at D23 Expo in September 2022 with the four-hero premise confirmed right away.
The headline pairing is Steve Rogers' Captain America and the 1940s Black Panther, Azzuri — a World War II-era King of Wakanda and grandfather of T'Chaka. This is not the MCU Black Panther; it's an original, era-authentic take created specifically for this story.
Video Highlights:
- The game was announced in 2021 with Amy Hennig as creative lead
- D3 Expo 2022 confirmed four playable heroes in a WWII setting
- Full reveal at GDC March 2024 running on Unreal Engine 5
- Voice cast revealed: Drew Moerlein as Steve Rogers, Khary Payton as Azzuri
- Delayed twice — now "beyond early 2026" with no firm release date
Azzuri is a 1940s Black Panther, not T'Challa. Setting the story decades before the modern Marvel era lets Skydance craft an original hero dynamic without MCU continuity constraints.
The Four Playable Heroes Explained
Based on everything officially revealed so far, here is the confirmed and strongly indicated roster:
| Hero | Identity | Role in Story | Voiced By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain America | Steve Rogers | Super soldier fighting Hydra in occupied Europe | Drew Moerlein |
| Black Panther | Azzuri (1940s King of Wakanda) | Wakanda's protector drawn into WWII | Khary Payton |
| Howard Stark | Industrialist genius | Allied inventor and support operative | Joel Johnstone (Joel John Stone) |
| Fourth Hero | Wakandan spy (Gabriel Jones per official reveals) | Ground-level operative linking the factions | Not fully confirmed |
Captain America (Steve Rogers)
- Shield-based combat with acrobatic offense
- Classic super-soldier traversal
- Allied forces point of view in occupied Paris
Black Panther (Azzuri)
- Rooftop parkour across Paris shown in the 2024 trailer
- Vibranium claws and Wakandan fighting style
- Represents Wakanda's interests in the conflict
Howard Stark
- Gadgets, weapons, and intel support
- Comic-relief genius energy in the Tony Stark mold
- Bridges the heroes and Allied command
Wakandan Spy
- Stealth and infiltration gameplay likely
- Connects Wakanda and Hydra storylines
- Completes the four-hero ensemble
The exact identity and playability split of the fourth hero should be treated as subject to change — the game has been delayed twice since the 2024 reveal, and details may shift before launch.
How the Character Switching Works
Amy Hennig's pedigree is narrative adventure, and Marvel 1943 follows that mold. Rather than an open-ended hero picker, the story switches between the four heroes chapter by chapter, similar to how Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us handled playable-character rotations.
| Mechanic | What to Expect | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Story-driven switching | Chapters rotate between heroes | 2024 reveal trailer & press interviews |
| Shared settings | Nazi-occupied Paris confirmed | Black Panther parkour trailer footage |
| Real-time in-engine visuals | Trailer billed as actual gameplay on UE5 | Hennig on stage at GDC 2024 |
| Ensemble dynamics | Heroes start distrustful, team up over time | D23 2022 premise description |
Story Unfolds by Perspective
Expect the campaign to open with one hero — most likely Captain America or Azzuri — before introducing the rest.
Chapter-Based Rotations
Key chapters shift control to different heroes, each with distinct combat and traversal styles.
Converging Team-Ups
As the Hydra threat escalates, heroes share screen time and combine abilities in set-piece encounters.
Finale Ensemble Mission
The marketing pitch — Cap and the 1940s Black Panther fighting side by side — points to a climactic joint operation.
September 2025 development leaks (screenshots from 2022–2023) showed environments, combat, and character models that looked far along, which suggests the core character structure has been stable for years.
Development Timeline and What It Means for the Roster
| Date | Event | Impact on Playable Heroes |
|---|---|---|
| October 2021 | Skydance announces Marvel game with Amy Hennig | Project revealed, no roster yet |
| September 2022 | D3 Expo tease | Four playable heroes confirmed |
| March 2024 | GDC full reveal, UE5 trailer | Cap, Azzuri, Howard Stark shown; voice cast revealed |
| May 2025 | First delay to early 2026 | "Polish" cited; roster unchanged |
| November 2025 | Second delay, "beyond early 2026" | Vision language raises roster/content questions |
| September 2025 | Dev screenshots leak | Heroes and combat appear far along |
With the release pushed past early 2026 and no new date announced, treat any roster detail — including the fourth hero's identity — as provisional until Skydance and Marvel confirm final marketing.
Fan Checklist: Track the Roster Before Launch
Things to Watch Before Release:
- Official confirmation of the fourth playable hero's identity
- Gameplay deep-dive showing each hero's combat style
- Whether Azzuri's Wakanda is a playable location
- Any changes to the roster after the 2025-2026 delays
- Final release date announcement from Skydance
The core answer to who you play as — Captain America (Steve Rogers) and the 1940s Black Panther (Azzuri), supported by Howard Stark and a fourth operative — has been consistent since 2022. The delays hurt the timeline, not the premise.
FAQ
Q: Who do you play as in Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra?
You play as four heroes: Steve Rogers' Captain America, the 1940s Black Panther Azzuri, Howard Stark, and a fourth operative revealed alongside the ensemble. The story rotates between them across the World War II campaign.
Q: Is the Black Panther in Marvel 1943 the same as T'Challa?
No. This is Azzuri, the King of Wakanda during the 1940s and grandfather of T'Chaka. He is an original era-specific take on the Black Panther mantle, voiced by Khary Payton.
Q: Can you freely switch between the four heroes?
Based on the revealed structure, no. Marvel 1943 is a narrative-driven adventure where the story switches between heroes at set points, similar to Amy Hennig's Uncharted games, rather than offering free character selection.
Q: When does Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra release?
As of late 2026, the game has been delayed beyond early 2026 with no firm date. Realistic estimates point to late 2026 at the earliest, with 2027 considered more likely given the second delay's vague 'fully realize our vision' language.