Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Curtails Mod Support

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.

NetEase Games, the developer, has consistently maintained that mod usage violates the game's terms of service, even for cosmetic modifications. Previous actions included banning specific mods, such as one featuring Donald Trump's likeness. The Season 1 update appears to have implemented hash checking, a technique verifying data authenticity, effectively eliminating widespread modding.

This move, while not surprising given NetEase's stated policy, has disappointed some players who enjoyed creating and using custom content. Several mod creators have expressed frustration on platforms like Twitter, showcasing unreleased mods now rendered obsolete.

While some mods contained controversial content, including nude character skins, the primary driver behind NetEase's crackdown is likely financial. As a free-to-play game, Marvel Rivals relies heavily on in-app purchases of character bundles containing cosmetic items. The availability of free, custom-made skins could significantly impact the game's profitability. Therefore, the ban on mods is viewed as a necessary business strategy to maintain revenue.

The Season 1 update itself introduced substantial new content, including playable Fantastic Four characters (Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman initially, with Thing and Human Torch to follow), a new Battle Pass, maps, and a Doom Match game mode. However, the unintended consequence – the disabling of mods – has sparked considerable discussion within the Marvel Rivals community.