Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Disables Mods

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Cracks Down on Mods

Marvel Rivals' Season 1 update has reportedly disabled custom-made mods, silencing a popular fan activity since the game's launch. While not officially announced, players discovered their custom character skins no longer function following the January 10, 2025, update.

Season 1 introduced significant content, including playable Fantastic Four characters (Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman initially, with the Thing and Human Torch to follow), a new Battle Pass, maps, and the Doom Match game mode. However, the unintended consequence – the disabling of mods – has sparked player reaction.

NetEase Games, the developer, has consistently maintained that mod usage violates the game's terms of service, even for purely cosmetic modifications, and previously threatened bans. The Season 1 update appears to have preemptively addressed this through hash checking, a security measure verifying data authenticity.

This anti-mod stance isn't surprising. NetEase previously acted against specific mods, such as a controversial Captain America/Donald Trump skin. While some players mourn the loss of customizable content and unreleased mods, NetEase's decision is likely driven by financial considerations.

Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play game, relying on in-game purchases of character bundles containing skins and other cosmetic items. The availability of free, custom mods could severely impact the game's profitability. Therefore, the ban, while potentially unpopular with some players, is a crucial business strategy for the game's long-term survival.