As *Marvel Rivals* continues to dominate the Steam and Twitch charts, a growing issue is casting a shadow over NetEase Games’ latest hero shooter: the presence of bots. Launched in December, the game has been celebrated for its engaging gameplay and the innovative use of iconic characters like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the Fantastic Four. It has garnered a massive following, with hundreds of thousands of players logging in daily on Steam alone (via SteamDB). Despite its success, the implementation of AI enemies in several game modes has sparked ongoing debate among fans.

"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."

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Like many multiplayer titles released over the past decade and a half, *Marvel Rivals* includes practice modes featuring AI opponents, often referred to as "bots." These modes allow players to adjust the difficulty to their preference, serving as essential tools for skill improvement and casual play. However, the game is facing scrutiny for the alleged presence of bots in standard Quickplay matches.

Over the weeks, social media has been inundated with reports from players suspecting they are matched against low-level bots, sometimes even finding their teammates replaced by AI. Speculation suggests that *Marvel Rivals* might introduce these easier matches following consecutive player losses, aiming to prevent frustration and reduce queue times. However, NetEase has not provided clear information on the use of bots in Quickplay, leaving players to piece together clues from in-game behaviors and naming patterns. Signs such as repetitive actions, uniform naming conventions, and "restricted" career profiles on opponents have fueled the debate.

“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 said. “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; similar discussions have surrounded games like Fortnite. In the case of *Marvel Rivals*, some players advocate for an option to toggle bot matches on or off, while others demand their complete removal. There are also players who appreciate bot lobbies as a chance to achieve specific hero milestones. Reddit user ciaranxy has called on the community to scrutinize their matches, emphasizing the lack of player choice in Quickplay.

“So, you can choose to believe this is an issue or not – that is your CHOICE,” ciaranxy says in the post. “But – for everyone else – when you press Quickplay, NetEase does not give you a choice.”

If you've spent significant time with *Marvel Rivals* since its launch, you may have encountered one of these suspicious lobbies. I, too, have experienced a questionable Quickplay match exhibiting several red flags, such as unnatural player movements, similar naming patterns, and restricted profiles across multiple players. We have reached out to NetEase for clarification on these concerns and the alleged use of bots in *Marvel Rivals*.

Amidst the bot controversy, players have found creative ways to deal with AI, such as using Invisible Woman to outsmart them (learn more here). Looking ahead, NetEase has ambitious plans for 2025, starting with the introduction of the Fantastic Four in Season 1: Eternal Night Falls. Creative director Guangyun Chen has committed to introducing at least one new hero every half-season, and fans can soon look forward to Peter Parker’s Advanced Suit 2.0 from Marvel’s Spider-Man.