Marvel Rivals, the new hero shooter from NetEase Games, has quickly climbed the Steam and Twitch charts, captivating players with its stylish gameplay and iconic Marvel characters like Spider-Man and Wolverine. However, a growing concern among fans centers around the suspected use of bots in Quickplay matches.

While practice modes clearly utilize AI opponents for skill development, players report encountering suspiciously low-skill opponents in standard Quickplay matches, sometimes even with bot-like teammates. The prevailing theory suggests Marvel Rivals might place players against bots after a series of losses, potentially to mitigate frustration and reduce queue times.

NetEase has yet to publicly address these concerns. Social media discussions highlight several potential indicators of bot matches: repetitive and unusual in-game behavior, similar player names (often single words or capitalized phrases), and enemy profiles labeled "restricted." Players express frustration at the lack of transparency, making it difficult to distinguish skill-based matches from those involving bots.

The impact on gameplay is significant. Players argue that learning new heroes in Quickplay becomes unreliable if wins are artificially inflated by bot opponents. Some call for a toggle to enable or disable bot matches, while others demand their complete removal. Conversely, some players view bot matches as opportunities to complete specific hero achievements.

The debate reflects a broader issue within online gaming. The use of bots to manipulate matchmaking isn't new, and Marvel Rivals is now facing similar scrutiny. The lack of clear communication from NetEase regarding bot implementation only fuels the controversy. The author confirms encountering a suspicious Quickplay match exhibiting many of the reported characteristics.

Despite this controversy, NetEase's plans for Marvel Rivals in 2025 are ambitious, including the introduction of the Fantastic Four in Season 1: Eternal Night Falls, a new hero every half-season, and a new Peter Parker skin based on Marvel's Spider-Man. Whether or not the bot issue is addressed remains to be seen.