Marvel Rivals Modding Persists Despite Season 1 Bans

Players of *Marvel Rivals* are taking a significant risk by continuing to use mods, even after the game's developers, NetEase, have tightened restrictions with the launch of Season 1. Since the game's highly successful debut in December, players have been customizing skins, despite warnings about potential account bans. Notable mods include transforming Iron Man into Vegeta from *Dragon Ball*, Mantis into a goth character, and turning Jeff the Land Shark into Pochita from *Chainsaw Man*.

With the release of Season 1 and the introduction of the Fantastic Four, NetEase implemented a new anti-mod measure known as asset hash checking. In a statement to IGN, NetEase reiterated their stance against mods, stating, "It is not recommended to modify any game files, as doing so carries the risk of getting banned." Despite these warnings, some players are still using mods, with a workaround now widely available online. Although the process is more complicated than before, it remains accessible for most PC users.

Modder Prafit, who shared their workaround on Nexus Mods, cautioned users with the message, "Use at your own risk." Prafit elaborated, "By using this, you are actually circumventing a system that was created to stop us from modding on the Season 1 patch start. No-one knows if NetEase will ban you, but they have never issued permabans as far as we know."

Following the addition of the Fantastic Four, new mods have emerged, such as Ercuallo's mod that turns Mister Fantastic into Luffy from *One Piece*. This mod has seen over 5,000 downloads in just two days since its release, according to Nexus Mods stats.

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 use of mods raises the question of whether NetEase will enforce their ban threats. So far, no instances of bans due to modding have been reported, but the proliferation of workarounds might prompt further action from the developers.

NetEase's motivation to ban mods likely stems from concerns over lost revenue from skin sales, potential intellectual property issues, and the impact mods could have on game balance and performance. Modder Prafit noted that their workaround is best suited for those with powerful PCs, highlighting potential performance issues.

While the modding community navigates these challenges, players can stay updated with the Season 1 patch notes, review the latest Marvel Rivals' pick and win rates in Quickplay and Competitive modes from Season 0, and take advantage of Marvel Rivals codes for free skins. Additionally, engage with the community by voting on the strongest characters in our community tier list.