The party might be over for Marvel Rivals modders. In a recent update coinciding with the start of Season 1, NetEase has effectively ended support for PC mods that altered the appearance of its heroes. Fans who delighted in seeing Iron Man transformed into Vegeta or Mantis sporting a goth aesthetic will now find those mods nonfunctional.
Why Are Mods No Longer Working?
Players quickly noticed something was amiss after Friday’s patch and began raising concerns in the Marvel Rivals Discord. The culprit? A new feature called asset hash checking, which scans the game’s files to ensure they haven’t been modified. If any files deviate from the original assets, they simply won’t work.
MerryJoyKey, the creator of the Marvel Rivals mod manager on NexusMods, addressed the issue in a comment: “It’s possible, although not likely, that a workaround can be found and I will update everyone here if/when that should happen.” For now, updates to the mod manager have been postponed until a solution is discovered.
Why Did NetEase Make This Change?
The sudden implementation of asset hash checking came without warning. Neither the patch notes for Season 1 nor any prior announcements mentioned the move. The only clue came earlier in the week, when NetEase told Polygon: “It is not recommended to modify any game files, as doing so carries the risk of getting banned.” While no reports of bans have surfaced yet, the game’s terms of use have always prohibited mods, leaving players in a legal gray area.
The modding community had flourished in recent weeks, with thousands of users sharing and downloading mods on NexusMods. For a brief moment, Marvel Rivals even competed with heavyweights like Skyrim and Cyberpunk 2077 on the list of the month’s top-modded games. However, mods touching on controversial topics—like custom skins featuring U.S. presidents—had already faced removal under NexusMods’ policies against sociopolitical content.
Are Mods a Threat to Fair Play?
It’s common for online competitive games to restrict mods to prevent players from gaining unfair advantages, such as removing map geometry. While Marvel Rivals mods have largely focused on cosmetics, there’s always the potential for things to escalate. By curbing mods now, NetEase may be aiming to maintain control and preempt future issues.
What Does This Mean for Players?
With mods off the table, players hoping to customize their heroes will need to do it the old-fashioned way: by purchasing skins in the in-game shop. The community’s creativity, which brought us fan-made designs like Iron Man Vegeta and Iron Fist Goku, will be sorely missed. For now, the dream of dressing up heroes with custom mods has come to an end.
Key Points
- NetEase’s Stance: The implementation of asset hash checking signals a firm stance against modding, likely aimed at maintaining control over the game’s integrity and monetization.
- Player Reactions: The decision has sparked disappointment within the modding community, which had grown rapidly in popularity.
- Future Updates: While no bans have been reported, the situation remains fluid, and players should keep an eye on future updates and policies.
- Monetization Shift: With mods no longer available, players may feel more pressure to purchase official skins, possibly increasing revenue for NetEase but alienating modding enthusiasts.