Marvel Rivals Apologizes for Banning Non-Cheaters

Marvel Rivals Issues Apology for Unfair Bans; Players Advocate for Rank-Inclusive Character Bans

NetEase, the developer of Marvel Rivals, recently issued a public apology for mistakenly banning a significant number of innocent players. The incident, which occurred on January 3rd, saw numerous non-Windows users – those playing on macOS, Linux, and Steam Deck via compatibility layers – incorrectly flagged as cheaters. This occurred during a broader effort to combat cheating within the game.

The developer acknowledged the error, stating that compatibility layer software, particularly Proton on SteamOS, triggered their anti-cheat system. All affected players have had their bans lifted, and NetEase has encouraged players to report actual cheating behavior and utilize the in-game or Discord support channels for appeal in case of wrongful bans.

Separately, a different type of ban is generating significant discussion within the Marvel Rivals community: character bans. Currently, this feature, allowing players to remove specific characters from selection, is only available at Diamond rank and above. Many players, particularly those in lower ranks, are expressing frustration at the lack of this mechanic in their games. Reddit users have voiced concerns about imbalanced matchups and the inability to experiment with different strategies without facing overpowered characters. They argue that implementing character bans across all ranks would improve gameplay balance and provide valuable learning opportunities for newer players.

While NetEase hasn't yet responded to these calls for change, the community's strong sentiment suggests a potential future update to address this issue. The disparity in access to character bans highlights a broader discussion about balancing competitive fairness across different skill levels within the game.