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 previously functional mods are now ineffective.
This move, though unsurprising given NetEase's clear stance against modding in its terms of service, has nevertheless disappointed many players who enjoyed creating and using custom character skins. The company has previously issued bans for mod usage, including a notorious Donald Trump mod replacing Captain America's head. The Season 1 update appears to have implemented hash checking, a security measure verifying data authenticity, effectively eliminating widespread modding.
The introduction of The Fantastic Four as playable characters, a new Battle Pass, maps, and the Doom Match game mode, marks Season 1's major additions. However, the silent removal of mod functionality overshadows these positive changes for some players. Several mod creators have expressed their frustration on platforms like Twitter, sharing unreleased creations now rendered obsolete.
While some mods contained controversial content, such as nude character skins, the primary driver behind NetEase's anti-modding stance is likely 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 cosmetics would severely undermine the game's monetization strategy and profitability. Therefore, the ban on mods is a calculated business decision, albeit one met with mixed reactions from the player base.
