Marvel Rivalsis off to a huge start and the game hasn’t even hit its first official season yet. Withmore than 20 million active playersin the three short weeks since its launch, NetEase has an incredible amount of forward momentum to make the comic book-themed hero shooter one of the next big players in the live service ecosystem. There’s a huge and active fan community for the game, though it comes with its own set of pros and cons.
When a game reaches the massive popularity that a title likeMarvel Rivalsis currently enjoying, there’s almost inevitably going to be a vibrant and thriving modding community that crops up around it. Normally, this is a great thing; mods keep fans engaged with a game over time, and it’s a great expression of a community’s creativity. But inMarvel Rivals' unique case, banning users from accessing mods might be better for the overall health of the game in the long run.
Why Marvel Rivals Needs to Crack Down On Mods
Client-Side Cosmetic Mods Decrease Marvel Rivals' Ability to Effectively Monetize
When it comes to mods, there’s one type that everyone will agree should be banned wholesale and it’s mods that give the player an otherwise unfair advantage over their opponents. No one in their right mind would ever argue againstNetEase using whatever means it can to prevent cheatersfrom ruining the experience for others. But unfortunately, it’s not just these types of mods that NetEase is going to have to bring down the hammer on.
A big part of what’s madeMarvel Rivalsso successful is the fact that it’s free-to-play. It’s heavily accessible to just about anyone with a PC or console able to run it, with the entirety of the game’s business coming from transactions made in the in-game store. LikeFortniteandApex Legends, the lifeblood ofMarvel Rivalscomes from these largely cosmetic purchases.
Simple client-side mods that change the appearance of a character seem pretty harmless on the surface, but these will eventually impact NetEase’s ability to keep the game running over the next few years. A mod that gives Captain America his outfit fromAvengers: Infinity Waris just a matter of the gamer’s personal preferences. That is until NetEase releases its version of that skin and loses money from players with the mod already installed.
It’s an unfortunate situation, but it’s a necessary decision for the developers that will help support the game far into the future.Marvel Rivalsis one of the most promising hero shooters the industry has seen in a number of years, and witha full back catalog of Marvel heroes and villainsto add, there’s potential for it to expand and surpass any of its competitors in just a few short years' time. It would be tragic if the game had to shutter its doors early because it wasn’t generating enough revenue due to unofficial fan-made mods.
On the Bright Side of the Marvel Rivals Modding Situation
It’s not all gloom and doom, though. Yes, the free-to-play nature of the game means thatNetEase will have to crack down on cosmetic mods. But on the flip side of that, it means that fans will soon be getting a whole host of cosmetic options to satiate their desire for new content/skins.
Ifcosmetics are the lifeblood of a free-to-play game likeMarvel Rivals, then there will certainly be a glut of them coming down the pipeline for the same reason NetEase will have to eventually take a hardline against mods: they need to keep the lights on somehow. And with each character inMarvel Rivalscoming complete with decades of alternate costumes and looks from the comics, movies, and television shows, players will be eating very well when it comes to their cosmetic options for their favorite heroes.
Marvel Rivals
WHERE TO PLAY
Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!A Deep and Varied Marvel RosterChoose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game DynamicsWith intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there’s never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.Dynamic Hero SynergyCoordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!Creative Environment DestructionTear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch UpdatesThe Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
