Since the highly successful December launch of Marvel Rivals, players have been customizing their gameplay experience with mods, creating unique skins despite the looming threat of account bans. Notable mods include transforming Iron Man into Vegeta from Dragon Ball, Mantis into a gothic version, and even converting Jeff the Land Shark into Pochita from Chainsaw Man.
Last week, with the launch of Season 1 and the introduction of the Fantastic Four, Marvel Rivals implemented a new anti-mod measure in the form of asset hash checking. Developer NetEase reiterated to IGN that the game's terms of service explicitly prohibit the use of mods, cheats, bots, hacks, or any unauthorized third-party software. NetEase had previously warned players about the potential risks of modding and emphasized this in a statement to IGN: "It is not recommended to modify any game files, as doing so carries the risk of getting banned."
### Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best HeroesMarvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
Despite these warnings, some players remain undeterred. A workaround for the new restrictions has been discovered and is now widely shared online. While it requires more steps than before, it's still accessible to many PC players. Modder Prafit, who shared their workaround on Nexus Mods, issued a caution to users: "Use at your own risk," Prafit noted in the mod's description.
"By using this, you are circumventing a system designed to prevent modding with the Season 1 patch. While NetEase has not issued permanent bans as far as we know, the risk remains," Prafit added.
Following the introduction of the Fantastic Four, new mods have emerged. For instance, Ercuallo's mod transforms Mister Fantastic into Luffy from the manga One Piece. This Luffy mod has been downloaded over 5,000 times on Nexus Mods within just two days of its release.
Modding Marvel Rivals lives on but it needs extra steps to pull off pic.twitter.com/VEeiiHyxiA
— Marvel Rivals - Leaks & Info (@RivalsLeaks) January 12, 2025
The ongoing question for Marvel Rivals modders and users is whether NetEase will follow through with bans, as they have threatened. The community has yet to find a confirmed case of a player being banned for modding, but these workarounds might provoke further action.
NetEase's stance on banning mods could be driven by several factors, including potential revenue loss from official skin sales, intellectual property concerns, and the impact mods might have on gameplay balance and game performance. Modder Prafit advised that their workaround should only be used by those with high-performance PCs.
In the meantime, you can explore the Season 1 patch notes for Marvel Rivals, review the official pick and win rates in Quickplay and Competitive modes from Season 0, and stay updated with the latest Marvel Rivals codes for free skins. Don't forget to participate in our community tier list to vote on the strongest Marvel Rivals characters.
