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 activity among players since the game's launch. While not explicitly announced, players discovered their mods no longer function, reverting characters to their default appearances.
NetEase Games, the developer, has consistently maintained that mod usage violates the game's terms of service, even for cosmetic modifications, and has previously issued bans. The Season 1 update appears to have preemptively addressed this through the implementation of hash checking, a technique verifying data authenticity.
This move, while not surprising given NetEase's prior stance and actions (including banning a controversial mod), has disappointed some players who enjoyed customized content. Several mod creators have expressed frustration, sharing unreleased creations now rendered obsolete.
While some mods featured provocative content, including nude character skins, the primary motivation behind NetEase's action likely stems from the game's free-to-play business model. Marvel Rivals relies heavily on in-game purchases of character bundles containing cosmetic items. The availability of free cosmetic mods could significantly impact the game's profitability. Therefore, the ban on mods is viewed as a necessary business strategy to maintain revenue.
