Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Disables Mods

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, players discovered this change upon logging in, finding their custom character skins no longer functional.

Launched on January 10, 2025, following a successful debut, Season 1 introduces The Fantastic Four as playable characters (Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman initially, with the Thing and Human Torch to follow), a new Battle Pass, maps, and a Doom Match mode. However, the unintentional consequence for many is the loss of their modded content.

NetEase Games, the developer, has consistently stated that mod usage violates the game's terms of service, even for cosmetic changes. Previous actions included banning specific mods, such as one featuring Donald Trump's likeness replacing Captain America's. The Season 1 update appears to have preemptively addressed widespread modding through hash checking, a technique verifying data authenticity.

This move, while not surprising given NetEase's prior actions and clear terms of service, has disappointed some players who enjoyed customizable content. Some mod creators have even shared their unreleased work on platforms like Twitter, highlighting the lost potential.

While some provocative mods, including those depicting characters nude, have drawn criticism, the primary driver behind the ban is likely financial. As a free-to-play game, Marvel Rivals relies heavily on in-game purchases of character bundles containing skins and other cosmetic items. The availability of free cosmetic mods could significantly impact the game's profitability. Therefore, eliminating mod support is a strategic business decision for NetEase.