While Marvel Rivals continues to dominate the Steam and Twitch charts, a growing concern among fans centers around the presence of bots in the game. Launched in December, this superhero-themed competitive multiplayer title from NetEase Games has garnered critical acclaim and a massive following, with hundreds of thousands of players engaging daily on Steam alone, according to SteamDB. Despite its success, the game has faced scrutiny over the integration of AI opponents in various game modes.
Many players have expressed their dissatisfaction with encountering bots in Quickplay matches. "I know people may feel differently but playing against bots in (Quickplay) just doesn’t feel good at all to me," one Reddit user commented. "AI should be in AI modes and that's it." This sentiment is echoed across social media platforms, where players report being matched against what they believe are low-level bot players, sometimes even alongside bot teammates.
The speculation is that Marvel Rivals may introduce bot matches following a series of losses to prevent players from feeling discouraged and to reduce queue times. However, NetEase has not provided any clarity on this matter, leaving players to decipher potential signs of bots themselves. These signs include repetitive in-game behaviors, similarly structured names, and restricted career profiles.
"The fact that you can even get bot games after wins and that the game doesn't tell you that you're against bots is what gets me about this," another Reddit user noted. "You don't want to learn new heroes in comp because people will understandably rage at you for doing that, but if you try to learn a hero in (Quickplay) you now have to second guess if you actually are getting any better on that hero or if the game is just making you think you are because it's handing you free wins in the form of bots."
The debate over bots in multiplayer games is not new, with similar discussions occurring in games like Fortnite. In Marvel Rivals, some players advocate for a toggle to opt out of bot matches, while others suggest removing the feature entirely. A faction of the player base appreciates the occasional bot lobby, using it to achieve specific hero milestones.
Reddit user ciaranxy has been vocal about this issue, urging the community to investigate their matches. "So, you can choose to believe this is an issue or not – that is your CHOICE," ciaranxy stated. "But – for everyone else – when you press Quickplay, NetEase does not give you a choice."
For those who have spent considerable time with Marvel Rivals, encountering these questionable lobbies is not uncommon. Personal experiences, including matches with stiff player movement, similarly structured names, and restricted profiles, have fueled the ongoing debate.
As the community continues to probe the bot issue, some players have found creative ways to counter them, such as using Invisible Woman to halt bots in their tracks. Meanwhile, NetEase is looking ahead to a promising 2025, starting with Season 1: Eternal Night Falls featuring the Fantastic Four. Creative Director Guangyun Chen has committed to introducing at least one new hero every half-season, with the upcoming release of Peter Parker's Advanced Suit 2.0 from Marvel's Spider-Man.
