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 this change upon logging in, finding their customized character skins reverted to default appearances.

Launched on January 10, 2025, following a successful debut in early December, Season 1 introduced substantial 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 disabling of mods overshadowed these additions for many.

NetEase Games, the developer, had consistently warned against mod usage, citing violations of the game's terms of service. Previous actions, such as banning a mod featuring Donald Trump's likeness replacing Captain America's, foreshadowed this broader crackdown. The update appears to employ hash checking, a technique verifying data authenticity, effectively eliminating widespread modding.

The community's reaction has been mixed. While some understand NetEase's position, others express disappointment over the loss of customizable content, with mod creators sharing unreleased work now rendered obsolete. The presence of provocative mods, including nude skins, has fueled some complaints; however, the primary motivation for NetEase's action likely stems from the game's free-to-play business model. Marvel Rivals relies heavily on in-game purchases of character bundles containing cosmetic items. The availability of free cosmetic mods could severely impact the game's profitability. Therefore, the ban on mods, while controversial, appears to be a strategic business decision to maintain revenue streams.