NetEase Games Issues Warning: Marvel Rivals Modders Face Bans

NetEase Games, developer and publisher of the popular team shooter Marvel Rivals, has issued a stern warning to players using mods. The company explicitly stated that any modification of the game, regardless of whether it's cosmetic or provides gameplay advantages, violates the terms of service and risks a permanent ban.

This announcement follows the launch of Season 1, which included hero adjustments, the addition of Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic (with Human Torch and The Thing to follow), and an initial attempt to deter modding by checking game asset hashes. Despite this, workarounds quickly emerged, allowing players to bypass these checks. One such mod, available on Nexus Mods, circumvents the hash check, enabling modifications like transforming Mister Fantastic into One Piece's Luffy. While the mod's creator, Prafit, acknowledges the ban risk, the mod remains available.

Although NetEase Games hasn't publicly confirmed any bans for modding yet, the company has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards modifications, cheats, and hacks. While some mods have been removed from platforms like Nexus Mods, others persist, highlighting the ongoing challenge of combating modding. The situation underscores the tension between player creativity and the developers' need to maintain game integrity. The long-term consequences of this ongoing modding activity remain to be seen. Marvel Rivals, nominated for Online Game of the Year at the DICE Awards 2025, continues to enjoy popularity despite these challenges.