Marvel Rivals Update Disables Mods

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update: The End of Custom Mods?

Marvel Rivals' Season 1 update has reportedly disabled custom-made mods, a popular feature among players since launch. While not officially announced, players discovered their mods no longer function, reverting characters to their default appearances.

The update, released January 10, 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" game mode. However, the simultaneous elimination of mod functionality has sparked debate.

NetEase Games, the developer, has consistently stated that mod usage violates the game's terms of service, threatening bans. The Season 1 update appears to have preemptively addressed this through hash checking, a technique verifying data authenticity and effectively blocking mods.

This move, while not entirely surprising given NetEase's prior actions (including banning a controversial Donald Trump mod), has disappointed some players who enjoyed customizable content. Several creators have expressed frustration, sharing unreleased mods now rendered unusable.

While some mods featured provocative content, including nude character skins, the primary reason for the ban likely stems from Marvel Rivals' free-to-play business model. The game relies heavily on in-app purchases of character bundles containing cosmetic items. Free, custom mods could significantly impact the game's profitability. Therefore, eliminating mod support is viewed as a necessary business strategy to maintain revenue.