Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Disables Mods

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Cracks Down on Mods

Marvel Rivals' Season 1 update has reportedly disabled the use of custom-made mods, a popular feature among players since the game's launch. While not explicitly announced, players discovered their previously functional mods are now ineffective.

The Season 1 update, released January 10th, 2025, introduced significant content including playable Fantastic Four characters (Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman initially, with Thing and Human Torch to follow), a new Battle Pass, maps, and a Doom Match mode. However, the simultaneous disabling of mods has drawn considerable attention.

NetEase Games, the developer, has consistently maintained that mod usage violates the game's terms of service, even for cosmetic modifications. Previous actions against individual mods, such as a Donald Trump Captain America skin, foreshadowed this broader crackdown. The update likely employs hash checking to verify data integrity, effectively preventing mod functionality.

This move, while anticipated by some due to NetEase's stated policy and past actions, has disappointed players who enjoyed creating and sharing custom content. Some mod creators have expressed frustration on platforms like Twitter, showcasing unreleased work now rendered obsolete.

While concerns about inappropriate mods, including nude character skins, exist, the primary motivation behind the ban likely stems from the game's free-to-play business model. Marvel Rivals relies heavily on in-app purchases of character bundles containing cosmetic items. The availability of free, custom cosmetic mods would severely undermine the game's revenue potential. Therefore, eliminating mod use is viewed as a necessary, albeit controversial, business decision.