Despite the risk of account bans, some players of *Marvel Rivals* are still using mods, even after a crackdown with the launch of Season 1. Since the game's successful launch in December, fans have been customizing their characters with mods, such as turning Iron Man into Vegeta from *Dragon Ball*, Mantis into a goth, and transforming Jeff the Land Shark into Pochita from *Chainsaw Man*. These mods have been popular despite warnings about potential account bans.
Last week, coinciding with the introduction of the Fantastic Four and the start of Season 1, *Marvel Rivals* implemented a new mod restriction through asset hash checking. Developer NetEase had previously emphasized in the game's terms and conditions that mods, cheats, bots, hacks, or any unauthorized third-party software are prohibited. In a statement to IGN, NetEase reiterated, "It is not recommended to modify any game files, as doing so carries the risk of getting banned."
Yet, some players remain undeterred. A workaround, which involves more steps but is still feasible for many PC players, has been discovered and is circulating online. Modder Prafit, who shared their workaround on Nexus Mods, cautioned users: "Use at your own risk." They noted, "By using this, you are actually circumventing a system that was created to stop us from modding on the Season 1 patch start. No one knows if NetEase will ban you, but they have never issued permabans as far as we know."
The addition of the Fantastic Four has sparked new mods, such as Ercuallo's mod that transforms Mister Fantastic into Luffy from the manga *One Piece*. This mod has already been downloaded over 5,000 times in just two days since its release, according to Nexus Mods statistics.
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 enforce bans as threatened. While no confirmed cases of bans for mod use have surfaced, the community is vigilant about potential future actions. NetEase's motivations for banning mods could include protecting revenue from skin sales, safeguarding intellectual property, and maintaining game balance and performance. Prafit, the modder, advised that their workaround should only be used by players with high-performance PCs.
For the latest updates, be sure to review the Season 1 patch notes for *Marvel Rivals*, and check out the official stats on pick and win rates for Quickplay and Competitive modes from Season 0. Don't forget to look for the latest Marvel Rivals codes to snag free skins, and participate in our community tier list to vote on the strongest characters in the game.
