Mods are Back for Marvel Rivals… But There’s a Catch

by

It’s commonly understood that although Marvel Rivals by NetEase Games is a free-to-play title, its creators generate substantial revenue through the sale of exclusive skins and cosmetic items.

Initially, upon the game’s debut, it was effortless to incorporate various modifications (mods), providing players with an array of unique skins for both Marvel characters and non-Marvel figures. However, following the Season 1 update, the developers swiftly discontinued this feature. Now, mods have reappeared, but there’s a twist: they come with a condition attached.

Mods are Back in Marvel Rivals

As reported by Dexerto, the process for installing mods in Marvel Rivals has been altered. Instead of relying on a mod manager like before, modifiers will now need to directly access the game’s .pak files to make the necessary changes.

As a gamer, I’ve found that this game requires a bit more setup than others due to its unique modding process. But fear not! With a few helpful tutorials at your side, even a newcomer can dive in and start customizing their gaming experience.

A significant point to consider is that employing this approach for mod installation within the game might lead to a player being punished or banned. Therefore, enthusiasts can continue enjoying mods through alternative methods, but if NetEase discovers you’re attempting to transform Moon Knight into Batman, your account could be temporarily suspended and you may find yourself regrettably returning to the realm of Overwatch 2.

It Was Inevitable

Despite mods being frequent in games and often supported by developers, a significant number of gamers were disheartened when mods for a title like Marvel Rivals were eventually prohibited. This is because the game’s primary earnings primarily come from cosmetics, and if players create their unique skins within the game, they might have reduced motivation to purchase those offered by the in-game store.

In a somewhat unfair manner for consumers, just because Marvel Rivals is free-to-play doesn’t grant players unrestricted control over the characters. This might have been acceptable if there were alternative revenue streams for the game, but since mods are currently the sole means of generating income, they effectively render other profit methods obsolete.

Here to Stay

It’s typically disappointing for modders when Marvel Rivals prevents them from making modifications. However, if it helps, the fact that MR is giving Overwatch a challenging rival in terms of gameplay might significantly alter how both games handle cosmetic elements.

Since becoming a free-to-play game, Overwatch has faced criticism over its expensive skins. However, following the release of Rivals in December, the game offered three Legendary skins at no cost to players, making them relatively simple to acquire.

If the back-and-forth competition persists between Overwatch and Marvel Rivals, it could potentially benefit consumers as both studios strive to capture their interest. Perhaps Overwatch might even consider teaming up with DC Comics next – they did take everyone by surprise with the Avatar: The Last Airbender collaboration.

Marvel Rivals is now playable for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC.

Read More

2025-01-15 05:12