Despite the risks of account bans, players of *Marvel Rivals* continue to use mods even after a stringent clampdown with the launch of Season 1. Since the game's triumphant debut in December, the community has been customizing skins, transforming characters like Iron Man into Vegeta from *Dragon Ball* and Mantis into a goth. There's also a mod that morphs Jeff the Land Shark into Pochita from *Chainsaw Man*.
Last week, with the release of the Fantastic Four and the start of Season 1, *Marvel Rivals* introduced a covert mod restriction through asset hash checking. Developer NetEase reiterated to IGN that the game's terms of service strictly prohibit mods, as well as cheats, bots, hacks, and any other unauthorized third-party software. NetEase had previously cautioned players about the potential risks of using mods, and emphasized this in their statement to IGN: "It is not recommended to modify any game files, as doing so carries the risk of getting banned."
Yet, some players remain undaunted. A workaround has been discovered and is now widely shared online. Though it requires more steps than before, it's still feasible for most PC users. Modder Prafit, who shared their workaround on Nexus Mods, issued a caution: "Use at your own risk," they warned in the mod's description.
"By using this, you are actually circumventing a system that was designed to prevent modding starting with the Season 1 patch. No one knows if NetEase will ban you, but as far as we know, they have never issued permanent bans," Prafit added.
New mods have emerged, capitalizing on the addition of Fantastic Four characters. For instance, Ercuallo's mod transforms Mister Fantastic into Luffy from the *One Piece* manga. Nexus Mods statistics show that this Luffy mod has been downloaded over 5,000 times within 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 use of mods raises questions about whether NetEase will follow through with its threats of bans. The community has not yet found evidence of any player being banned for using mods, but these workarounds might provoke further action from the developers.
Why might NetEase want to ban mods? Beyond the potential loss of revenue from skin sales and concerns over intellectual property rights, mods can disrupt the game's balance and performance. Modder Prafit noted that their temporary workaround is best suited for those with high-performance PCs.
In the meantime, don't miss out on the *Marvel Rivals* Season 1 patch notes, and check the official stats for Marvel Rivals' pick and win rates in Quickplay and Competitive modes for Season 0. Keep an eye on the latest Marvel Rivals codes for free skins, and participate in voting for the strongest Marvel Rivals characters in our community tier list.
