Marvel Rivals Players at Ban Risk

NetEase Games Issues Warning: Marvel Rivals Modders Face 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 to the playable roster (with Human Torch and The Thing slated for future updates), and an attempt to deter modding through asset hash checks. Despite these measures, workarounds quickly emerged, allowing players to circumvent the anti-modding mechanisms.

One such workaround, detailed by IGN, was an add-on available on Nexus Mods that bypassed the hash checks. The mod's creator, Prafit, openly acknowledged the risk of account bans associated with its use, recommending it only to users with high-performance PCs. Further highlighting the modding activity, a mod transforming Mister Fantastic into One Piece's Luffy, created by Ercuallo, circulated on social media.

While NetEase Games hasn't publicly confirmed any bans for modding yet, the company's stance remains firm. Although some mods, including one featuring President-elect Donald Trump, have been removed from Nexus Mods, Prafit's workaround persists, boasting over 500 downloads.

Despite past instances of erroneous bans, NetEase Games has clearly defined the consequences of violating the terms of service. The future impact of this warning and the prevalence of modding on the game's player base remains to be seen. Marvel Rivals, a December 2024 launch, is a DICE Awards 2025 nominee for Online Game of the Year. The awards ceremony is scheduled for February 13th in Las Vegas.