The Marvel Rivals Bot Conspiracy, Explained

Marvel Rivals' Popularity Shadowed by Bot Concerns

Despite topping Steam and Twitch charts, Marvel Rivals, NetEase Games' hero shooter, faces growing player suspicion regarding the prevalence of bots in its matches. The game, launched in December to widespread acclaim for its style and roster of iconic Marvel characters, boasts a large player base. However, weeks of player reports suggest AI opponents are appearing in standard Quickplay matches, not just the designated practice modes.

Reddit users have voiced frustration, stating that encountering bots in Quickplay diminishes the experience and hinders skill improvement. The concern isn't about the existence of practice modes with adjustable AI difficulty, but the suspected injection of bots into regular gameplay. The prevailing theory is that the game strategically places players against bots after a series of losses, potentially to prevent player burnout and reduce queue times.

NetEase has yet to officially address these concerns, leaving players to speculate based on observed patterns. Suspicions are raised by repetitive in-game behaviors, similar player names (often single words or capitalized phrases), and, most notably, enemy profiles labeled "restricted." The lack of transparency fuels the controversy, with players questioning whether their perceived skill improvement is genuine or artificially inflated by facing weaker AI opponents.

This isn't a novel issue in online gaming; debates about bot influence in games like Fortnite have persisted for years. Marvel Rivals players are divided, with some demanding a toggle to enable or disable bot matches, others advocating for their complete removal, and a smaller group accepting them as opportunities for achievement completion.

One Reddit user, ciaranxy, highlighted the lack of player choice in this matter, emphasizing that NetEase doesn't offer an option to opt out of bot-filled Quickplay matches. Anecdotal evidence from players, including the author, supports the claims, citing observations of unusual player movement, similar names, and restricted profiles in suspected bot lobbies. NetEase has been contacted for comment.

Despite this controversy, NetEase's future plans for Marvel Rivals remain ambitious, including the introduction of the Fantastic Four in Season 1, a new hero every half-season, and the upcoming release of Peter Parker's Advanced Suit 2.0 skin. The ongoing debate about bots, however, casts a shadow on the game's otherwise positive reception. Separate articles explore player strategies for dealing with suspected bots, such as using Invisible Woman's abilities.