Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Disables Mods

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 pastime among players since the game's launch. While not explicitly announced, players discovered their mods no longer function, reverting characters to their default appearances.

This action, though unsurprising given NetEase's clear stance against modding in their terms of service (and previous bans of individual mods, such as a controversial Donald Trump mod), has disappointed many players who enjoyed creating and sharing custom content. Some creators have even mourned the loss of unreleased mods.

The update likely employs hash checking, a technique verifying data authenticity, effectively preventing mod usage. This move is strategically crucial for NetEase, as Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play game reliant on in-app purchases for profitability. The availability of free cosmetic mods could severely impact their revenue stream generated through character bundles containing skins and other cosmetic items.

Season 1 itself introduced significant new 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 game mode. However, the simultaneous elimination of mod functionality overshadows these additions for a segment of the player base. The debate continues regarding the balance between player creativity and the financial sustainability of free-to-play games.