“The publisher is going to be vigilant about anything that kills it”: Marvel Rivals Fans Justifying Witch-Hunt Against Modding Community Forget a Worst-Case Scenario That Comes With It

SUMMARY

• The Season 1 update for Marvel Rivals disabled mods by adding hash checking to the game.
• This move was probably because NetEase fears that community made 3rd party character mods will threaten revenue from skins.
• But mods have been a source of free PR for the game. So, why bite the hand that makes you more popular?

The relationship between modders and the developer is one of the most important things in a lot of games. But for Marvel Rivals, the honeymoon phase between the two has come to an abrupt end. The new Season 1 update brought asset hash checking, effectively disabling mods in the free-to-play hero shooter.

Trump’s head on Captain America in Marvel Rivals | Credits: NetEase

Marvel Rivals has been a massive success since its release and has maintained more than 90% of its initial player base after its first month. While the move aligns with the game’s terms of service, it kinda takes away the community-driven PR that comes with mods.

Marvel Rivals is just refusing free PR by removing mods

So much new content has arrived with Season 1. | Image Credit: NetEase

Modding has long been a staple of gaming culture, offering players a way to personalize their experience. In Marvel Rivals players mostly used mods to add unofficial skins to their characters. From making Captain America to look like Donald Trump and bringing Vegeta to replace Iron Man, modders got very creative.

But with the new update, NetEase has made it clear that modding is no longer welcome. This move aligns with the studio’s financial interests. Why allow free mods when Marvel Rivals has its own cosmetics (which by the way are amazing). What NetEase may not know is that this decision may inadvertently stifle the organic hype that mods have historically created for games.

NetEase’s decision to add asset hash checking to scan for altered game file has been met with both understanding and disappointment. For many, mods were harmless fun, visible only to the modder and offering no competitive edge. However, the publisher’s stance is clear: anything threatening their revenue stream is unacceptable.

The reaction from fans has been divisive. Some sympathize with the publisher’s vigilance in protecting its “golden goose.” Others, however, view this as an unnecessary witch-hunt against a community that brought vibrancy and humor to the game. Memorable mods, such as Iron Man reimagined as Vegeta from Dragon Ball or Mantis as a goth, had garnered attention and even generated organic publicity for Marvel Rivals on social media.

Mods in video games have already proven their use before

And Marvel Rivals had some great mods. | Image Credit: NetEase

Modding has a long history of breathing new life into games. Titles like Counter-Strike which was originally a mod for Half-Life, became standalone successes. Even games with strict monetization models (gacha haha), such as Genshin Impact, have thriving modding scenes that coexist with official content.

The key is balance. How does NetEase come to terms with community contributions without compromising revenue? Unfortunately, the studio’s decision to straight-up disable mods suggests a lack of willingness to explore this middle ground. While the game is easily beating Overwatch in terms of numbers, this might be a bad move.

NetEase could take a page from developers who have embraced modding in controlled ways. Allowing mods within certain but with limits such as restricting them to non-competitive modes could satisfy both creative players and corporate interests. Alternatively, they could create official modding tools or community events to channel player creativity in ways that align with their vision.

For now, NetEase’s measures appear effective, with mods no longer functioning. However, as with similar cases in gaming history, modders may eventually find other ways to start the cycle again. We’ll have to wait and see if NetEase’s crackdown will protect its golden goose or stifle its potential.

What do you think is NetEase plan with this move? Let us know in the comments!

Written by Daniel Royte

Articles Published: 681

Daniel is a gamer through and through with a passion for gaming in his veins. His current adventures have taken him into the world of Elden Ring, Wuthering Waves, and Genshin Impact, amongst others.