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 use of iconic Marvel characters, boasts hundreds of thousands of daily Steam players (via SteamDB). However, weeks of player discussion highlight concerns about AI opponents appearing in standard Quickplay matches.
"Playing against bots in Quickplay just doesn't feel good," one Reddit user stated, advocating for AI-only modes. While practice modes clearly utilize bots, the issue lies with their suspected presence in regular gameplay.
Social media is rife with reports of matches featuring low-level bots, sometimes replacing both players and teammates. The suspected trigger is a string of losses, potentially designed to prevent player frustration and maintain quick matchmaking. However, NetEase has yet to publicly address these concerns (IGN has requested comment).
Players have identified several potential indicators of bot matches: repetitive and unusual in-game behavior, similar player names (often single words in all caps or partial names), and, most notably, enemy profiles labeled "restricted."
"The game doesn't tell you you're against bots," another Reddit user pointed out, hindering skill assessment and hero practice. This issue mirrors similar debates in other multiplayer games like Fortnite.
Some players suggest a toggle to enable or disable bot matches, while others demand their complete removal. Conversely, some appreciate bot lobbies for completing hero achievements. A Reddit user, ciaranxy, highlighted the lack of player choice in this matter.
The author confirms encountering a suspicious Quickplay match exhibiting several reported characteristics: unnatural player movement, similar names, and restricted profiles for multiple players. NetEase has been contacted for clarification.
Despite this controversy, NetEase's plans for Marvel Rivals in 2025 remain ambitious, including the Fantastic Four in Season 1 and a new hero every half-season. A new Peter Parker skin is also anticipated later this month. Further information on the bot issue and potential solutions is awaited. Meanwhile, some players are finding creative ways to counter the suspected bots, as detailed in a separate article on how the Invisible Woman character can be used to disrupt bot actions.