Nexus Mods Bans Donald Trump Marvel Rivals Mod Due to Sociopolitical Concerns
A recently uploaded Donald Trump mod for the popular game Marvel Rivals has been removed from Nexus Mods, reportedly due to violations of the modding platform's policies against sociopolitically charged content. The mod, which replaced Captain America's model with that of Donald Trump, sparked discussion on social media, with some users even seeking out a purported Joe Biden counterpart.
Marvel Rivals, a hero shooter from NetEase Games, has gained millions of players since its release. The game's modding community has been active, creating various skin and model replacements, including those featuring characters from other franchises. The Trump mod, however, appears to have crossed a line for Nexus Mods. Attempts to locate the mod now result in an error message indicating it's unavailable. Similarly, a reported Joe Biden mod is also inaccessible.
Reasons for Removal:
Nexus Mods' decision aligns with a 2020 blog post outlining a policy to ban mods related to US sociopolitical issues. This policy, implemented around the time of the 2020 presidential election, aims to maintain a neutral platform and avoid potentially divisive content.
The community reaction has been mixed. While many found the ban unsurprising, citing the incongruity of Trump's image with Captain America's character, others expressed dissatisfaction with Nexus Mods' stance on political imagery in mods. It's noteworthy that despite this ban, Trump-themed mods persist in other games like Skyrim, Fallout 4, and XCOM 2.
NetEase's Silence:
NetEase Games, the developer of Marvel Rivals, has yet to comment publicly on the use of character mods, including those featuring controversial figures. The company is currently focused on addressing other issues, such as bug fixes and resolving wrongful account bans within the game.
