NetEase Games has pulled the plug on custom skins in Marvel Rivals, leaving some players mourning the loss of their creative freedom. The decision, which coincided with the game’s Season 1 update, aims to tackle cheating concerns and safeguard the company’s revenue stream.
Marvel Rivals, a successful free-to-play multiplayer game, relies heavily on selling official cosmetics to keep the lights on. By removing the ability to use custom mods, NetEase hopes to encourage players to purchase in-game skins instead of creating their own.
But it’s not just about the money. Custom skins posed a threat to the game’s competitive integrity. Some clever players were using modified skins to gain unfair advantages, like making enemy characters easier to spot or creating disruptive models that interfered with gameplay.
Licensing issues also played a role in NetEase’s decision. Marvel, known for its strict control over character portrayals, likely raised concerns about potentially offensive or unapproved skins tarnishing their beloved heroes’ images.
The gaming community’s reaction has been mixed. Some players understand the need to maintain a level playing field and protect the game’s financial model. Others argue mods are a crucial part of community engagement and worry that this move might hurt the game’s popularity.
It’s worth noting that the modding was done client-side, meaning only the player using the custom skin could see it. This fact has led some to question whether the ban was truly necessary, as the impact on other players was minimal.
