Marvel Rivals, despite its soaring popularity on Steam and Twitch, is facing scrutiny over the suspected use of bots in its gameplay. The hero shooter, launched in December to widespread acclaim, boasts a roster of iconic Marvel characters and consistently high player counts. However, a growing concern among players centers on the presence of AI opponents in standard Quickplay matches.
Many players report encountering matches where opponents exhibit suspiciously low skill levels, leading them to believe they're playing against bots. Some even claim that teammates are occasionally replaced by AI. While the exact trigger for these matches remains unclear, a prevailing theory suggests that the game strategically places players against bots after a series of losses, potentially to mitigate frustration and maintain quick matchmaking times.
NetEase, the game's developer, has yet to publicly address these concerns. This lack of transparency has fueled speculation and led players to identify potential indicators of bot matches. These include repetitive and unusual in-game behavior, similar player names (often single words in all caps, or a combination of a full name and a partial name), and enemy profiles labeled "restricted."
The frustration stems not only from the perceived unfairness of playing against bots in competitive modes, but also from the impact on player skill development. Players argue that using Quickplay to practice new heroes becomes unreliable if the matches are consistently against AI opponents. This lack of clarity on whether a match is against bots prevents players from accurately gauging their improvement.
The use of bots in online multiplayer games is not unprecedented, but the lack of transparency in Marvel Rivals has ignited significant debate. Some players advocate for a toggle to enable or disable bot matches, while others demand their complete removal. Others, however, view bot matches as opportunities to complete specific hero achievements.
The controversy surrounding bot matches in Marvel Rivals has prompted community investigations, with players sharing their experiences and attempting to identify consistent patterns. Reports of matches containing several of the suspected indicators, including stiff player movement and restricted profiles, further fuel the debate.
Despite this controversy, NetEase’s plans for Marvel Rivals in 2025 remain ambitious, including the introduction of the Fantastic Four, a new hero every half-season, and new skins like Peter Parker's Advanced Suit 2.0. Whether or not the bot issue is addressed, the game’s future appears bright.
