Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Cracks Down on Mods
The Season 1 update for Marvel Rivals has reportedly disabled the use of custom-made mods, a popular feature among players since the game's launch. While not explicitly announced, players discovered their mods no longer function after the January 10, 2025 update.
Season 1 introduced significant content, including playable Fantastic Four characters (Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman initially, with the Thing and Human Torch to follow), a new Battle Pass, maps, and a Doom Match mode. However, the simultaneous elimination of mod functionality has sparked debate.
NetEase Games, the developer, has consistently maintained that mod usage violates the game's terms of service, even for cosmetic changes. Previous actions, such as banning a mod featuring Donald Trump as Captain America, foreshadowed this broader crackdown. The update likely employs hash checking, a technique verifying data authenticity, to prevent mod usage.
The community's reaction is mixed. While some understand NetEase's position, others mourn the loss of customizable content and unreleased mods. Concerns about provocative mods, including nude skins, have also been raised, but the primary driver behind the ban appears to be financial.
As a free-to-play game, Marvel Rivals relies heavily on in-game purchases of character bundles containing cosmetic items. The availability of free, custom-made skins directly impacts the game's profitability. Therefore, the elimination of mods is viewed as a necessary business strategy to maintain revenue.
