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, the update effectively prevents players from using modified character skins and other cosmetic additions.
Launched on January 10, 2025, following a successful initial release, Season 1 introduces significant 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 has angered some players.
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 replacing Captain America's. The Season 1 update appears to employ hash checking, a technique verifying data authenticity, to prevent mod usage.
While the community anticipated some action against mods, the complete elimination has been met with disappointment. Mod creators have expressed frustration, sharing unreleased content that will remain unseen. While some mods contained provocative or inappropriate content (including nude character skins), the primary driver behind NetEase's decision is likely financial.
As a free-to-play game, Marvel Rivals relies on in-game purchases of character bundles containing cosmetic items. The availability of free, custom mods could significantly impact the game's profitability, making the ban a necessary business decision for NetEase.
