The Marvel Rivals Bot Conspiracy, Explained

Marvel Rivals' Popularity Shadowed by Bot Concerns

Despite topping Steam and Twitch charts, Marvel Rivals, NetEase Games' new hero shooter, faces growing player suspicion regarding the prevalence of bots in its matches. The game, lauded for its style and iconic Marvel characters like Spider-Man and Wolverine, boasts a large player base. However, weeks after launch, a significant online discussion has emerged concerning AI opponents appearing in standard Quickplay matches.

Players report encountering matches where opponents, and sometimes teammates, exhibit characteristics consistent with AI-controlled bots. These include repetitive, unnatural in-game behavior, similar player names (often single words in all caps or partial names), and enemy profiles labeled "restricted." The suspected trigger for these bot-filled matches is a string of player losses, a tactic potentially designed to prevent player frustration and maintain quick queue times.

NetEase has yet to publicly address these concerns, fueling speculation and community investigation. While practice modes clearly indicate AI opponents, the lack of transparency regarding bots in Quickplay matches is a major point of contention. Players are divided, with some requesting a toggle to enable or disable bot matches, others demanding their complete removal, and a few utilizing bot matches for achievement completion.

The debate highlights a recurring issue in online multiplayer games. The use of bots in games like Fortnite has been a long-standing point of discussion. In Marvel Rivals, the lack of clear communication from NetEase exacerbates the problem. One Reddit user, ciaranxy, highlighted the lack of player choice in encountering these matches.

The author confirms encountering a suspicious Quickplay match exhibiting the aforementioned characteristics. NetEase has been contacted for comment.

Despite this controversy, NetEase's plans for Marvel Rivals in 2025 remain ambitious, including the introduction of the Fantastic Four in Season 1 and a commitment to releasing at least one new hero per half-season. A new Spider-Man skin is also expected later this month. The ongoing bot debate, however, casts a shadow on the game's otherwise positive reception. Meanwhile, some players are creatively using characters like Invisible Woman to counter the suspected bots.