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 warning follows the release 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 attempt to deter modding by checking game asset hashes. Despite this, workarounds quickly emerged, allowing players to circumvent the anti-modding measures. One such mod, available on Nexus Mods, bypasses the hash check, while another transforms Mister Fantastic into One Piece's Luffy.

While NetEase Games hasn't publicly confirmed any bans for modding yet, the company has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy regarding modifications, cheats, and hacks. Although some mods have been removed from platforms like Nexus Mods, others, including the workaround mod, remain accessible.

The situation highlights the ongoing tension between developers' efforts to maintain game integrity and the ingenuity of modders. NetEase Games' stance is clear: continue modding at your own risk. The long-term consequences of this policy remain to be seen. Marvel Rivals, nominated for Online Game of the Year at the DICE Awards 2025, continues to enjoy popularity, but the future impact of widespread modding remains uncertain.