Marvel Rivals Sanctions Imposed on Players

NetEase Games Issues Warning: Marvel Rivals Modders Face Potential Bans

NetEase Games, developer and publisher of the popular team shooter Marvel Rivals, has issued a stern warning to players using mods. The company explicitly stated that any modification of the game, regardless of whether it's cosmetic or provides gameplay advantages, violates the game's terms of service and risks a permanent ban.

This announcement follows the release of Marvel Rivals Season 1, which introduced new content including the Fantastic Four's Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic. Despite attempts to prevent modding through Season 1's updates (checking asset hashes), workarounds have emerged. One such mod, available on Nexus Mods, bypasses these checks, allowing for modifications like transforming Mister Fantastic into One Piece's Luffy. While the mod's creator, Prafit, acknowledges the risk of bans, the mod remains available. Other mods, including one featuring President-elect Donald Trump, have been removed from Nexus Mods.

While NetEase Games hasn't publicly confirmed any bans for modding yet, the company has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy regarding modifications, cheats, and hacks. The long-term consequences for mod users remain uncertain, though the risks are clearly defined in the game's terms of service. Marvel Rivals, nominated for Online Game of the Year at the upcoming DICE Awards 2025, continues to grapple with the ongoing challenge of maintaining game integrity in the face of persistent modding efforts. The situation warrants further observation to see how NetEase Games will ultimately address the issue.