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 are no longer functional, reverting characters to their default appearances.

NetEase Games, the developer, has consistently stated that mod usage violates the game's terms of service, even for cosmetic modifications, and has previously issued bans for such infractions. The Season 1 update appears to have circumvented the need for individual bans by implementing hash checking, a technique verifying data authenticity.

This move, while not surprising given NetEase's prior warnings and actions (including banning a controversial mod), has disappointed some players who enjoyed creating and using custom content. Several mod creators have expressed frustration on platforms like Twitter, sharing unreleased mods now rendered obsolete.

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

The Season 1 update, launched January 10, 2025, 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 game mode. The removal of mod functionality, however, overshadows these additions for a segment of the player base.