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 no longer function, reverting characters to their default appearances.

This move, though unsurprising given NetEase's clear stance against modding in its terms of service (violations of which have previously resulted in bans), has disappointed many players who enjoyed creating and sharing custom content. Some mod creators have even publicly mourned unreleased projects now rendered obsolete.

The Season 1 update, released January 10, 2025, following a successful launch in December 2024, introduced significant content including the Fantastic Four as playable heroes (Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman initially, with Thing and Human Torch to follow), a new Battle Pass, maps, and a Doom Match mode. The simultaneous elimination of modding capabilities is believed to be due to the implementation of hash checking, a security measure verifying data authenticity.

While some mods featured controversial content, including nude character skins, the primary driver behind NetEase's action is likely financial. As a free-to-play game, Marvel Rivals relies heavily on in-game purchases of character bundles containing cosmetic items. The widespread availability of free, custom cosmetic mods would severely undermine the game's monetization strategy and profitability. Therefore, the ban on mods is viewed as a necessary business decision.