Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Cracks Down on Mods
Marvel Rivals' Season 1 update, released January 10th, 2025, has seemingly disabled custom-made mods, a popular feature among players since the game's December launch. While not explicitly announced, players discovered their mods no longer function, reverting characters to their default appearances.
This move, though impacting players who enjoyed creating and using cosmetic mods, aligns with NetEase's terms of service, which prohibit mod usage. The company has previously banned individual mods, including one featuring a controversial character substitution. The Season 1 update likely employs hash checking, a security measure verifying data authenticity, to effectively prevent mod usage.
The Season 1 update also introduced significant 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 mode.
NetEase's decision isn't surprising, given the game's free-to-play model. Marvel Rivals relies on in-game purchases of character bundles containing cosmetic items. The availability of free, custom-made cosmetics could severely undermine the game's profitability. While some players express disappointment over the loss of custom content, including unreleased mods shared on platforms like Twitter, the ban is a strategic move to protect the game's business model. Concerns over some mods' provocative nature, including nude skins, likely also contributed to the decision.
