Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Cracks Down on Mods

Marvel Rivals' Season 1 update has reportedly disabled custom-made mods, a popular feature among players since the game's launch. This change, while unannounced, prevents players from using modified character skins and other cosmetic alterations.

The game, launched in early December to significant success, introduced its Season 1 content on January 10, 2025. This included the Fantastic Four as playable characters (Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman initially, with the Thing and Human Torch to follow), a new Battle Pass, updated maps, and a new game mode, Doom Match.

NetEase Games, the developer, has consistently maintained that mod usage violates the game's terms of service, even for purely cosmetic modifications. While previous actions targeted individual mods—like a controversial Donald Trump mod—the Season 1 update appears to have implemented hash checking, effectively blocking most, if not all, custom modifications.

This decisive move against modding isn't entirely surprising. Beyond the terms of service, the free-to-play model of Marvel Rivals relies heavily on in-game purchases of character bundles containing cosmetic items. The availability of free, custom mods could severely impact the game's profitability. While some players express disappointment over the loss of customizable content, and creators mourn unreleased mods, NetEase's action is arguably a necessary business decision to sustain the game's financial viability. The presence of some overtly provocative mods, including nude skins, further complicates the issue.