Marvel Rivals Season 1 Patch Notes

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Cracks Down on Mods

Marvel Rivals' Season 1 update has reportedly disabled custom-made mods, ending a popular practice among players. Since launch, creating and using custom character skins has been a significant part of the Marvel Rivals experience. However, this is no longer possible following the January 10, 2025, Season 1 launch.

Season 1 introduced substantial new content, including the Fantastic Four as playable characters (Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman are currently available, with the Thing and Human Torch expected later), a new Battle Pass, updated maps, and a fresh Doom Match game mode. The unexpected change, however, is the apparent elimination of mod functionality.

NetEase Games, the developer, has consistently stated that mod usage violates the game's terms of service, even for purely cosmetic modifications. While previous actions involved banning individual mod users, the Season 1 update appears to have implemented hash checking, a technique verifying data authenticity, effectively preventing most, if not all, mods from functioning.

This move, while not entirely surprising given NetEase's clear stance and past actions (including the ban of a controversial Donald Trump mod), has disappointed many players who enjoyed customizable content. Some mod creators have even shared their unreleased work on platforms like Twitter, highlighting the impact of this change.

While some mods featured provocative content, including nude character skins, leading to player complaints, the primary driver behind NetEase's decision likely stems from the game's free-to-play business model. Marvel Rivals relies heavily on in-app purchases of character bundles containing skins, sprays, and other cosmetics. The availability of free, custom cosmetic mods could significantly undermine the game's profitability. Therefore, disabling mod functionality is a crucial business strategy for NetEase.