Marvel Rivals Players Risk Bans

Summary

• NetEase Games has warned Marvel Rivals players that modding the game could lead to permanent account bans, as it violates the game's terms of service.
• Season 1 of Marvel Rivals introduced new heroes and attempted to deter modding, but workarounds were quickly discovered.
• It remains unclear whether NetEase Games has issued any bans for modding Marvel Rivals.

NetEase Games, the developer and publisher of the popular team shooter Marvel Rivals, has issued a stern warning to its player base: any form of modding, whether it's cosmetic hero modifications or performance-enhancing add-ons, is strictly against the game's terms of service and could result in a permanent ban. This statement comes on the heels of the launch of Season 1, which not only brought new heroes like Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic from the Fantastic Four to the game but also introduced measures aimed at curbing modding.

Since its debut in December 2024, Marvel Rivals has captivated fans of Marvel Comics and team-based shooters alike, earning a nomination for Online Game of the Year at the upcoming DICE Awards 2025, set to be held on February 13 in Las Vegas. The game's success, however, has been shadowed by the persistent issue of modding.

Despite NetEase Games' efforts to disable mods in Season 1 through asset hash checks, workarounds have emerged. A notable example is an add-on available on Nexus Mods, created by a user named Prafit, which bypasses these deterrents. Prafit has openly acknowledged the risks associated with using this mod, recommending it only to those with high-end PCs. In a similar vein, another mod surfaced on social media, transforming Mister Fantastic into Luffy from One Piece, crafted by a user named Ercuallo and shared by RivalsLeaks on Twitter.

While some mods, including one featuring US President-elect Donald Trump, have been removed from Nexus Mods, Prafit's workaround remains accessible, boasting over 500 downloads at the time of writing. Despite the game experiencing issues with false bans since its launch, NetEase Games has made it abundantly clear that modding violates the game's terms of service. The community now awaits to see how NetEase Games will address this ongoing challenge.