Marvel Rivals Bans: Players Engage in Risky Behavior

NetEase Games Issues Warning: Marvel Rivals Modders Face Potential Bans

NetEase Games, developer and publisher of the popular team shooter Marvel Rivals, has issued a stern warning to players utilizing mods. The company explicitly stated that any modification of the game, regardless of whether it's cosmetic or provides gameplay advantages, violates the terms of service and risks a permanent ban.

This announcement follows the launch of Season 1, which included hero adjustments, the addition of Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic (with Human Torch and The Thing promised in future updates), and a (now circumvented) anti-modding measure checking game asset hashes. Despite this, workarounds have emerged, allowing players to modify game assets, as evidenced by mods like one transforming Mister Fantastic into One Piece's Luffy. These mods, distributed through platforms like Nexus Mods, have garnered significant attention.

While NetEase Games hasn't publicly confirmed any bans for modding yet, the company has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards modifications, cheats, and hacks. Although some mods, such as one featuring President-elect Donald Trump, have been removed from hosting sites, others, including a popular workaround with over 500 downloads, remain accessible.

The situation highlights the ongoing conflict between players seeking modification options and developers aiming to maintain game integrity. NetEase Games' response to the widespread use of these workarounds remains to be seen, but the company has clearly communicated the potential consequences of violating the terms of service. The future will determine the extent of enforcement.