The Marvel Rivals Bot Conspiracy, Explained

Marvel Rivals: The Bot Controversy

Despite topping Steam and Twitch charts, Marvel Rivals, NetEase Games' hero shooter, faces growing player concern over the suspected use of bots in Quickplay matches. The game, lauded for its style and iconic Marvel characters like Spider-Man and Wolverine, boasts a substantial player base. However, weeks after launch, a significant number of players are reporting matches against what they believe are AI opponents, even in standard Quickplay modes.

Reddit users have voiced frustration, stating that encountering bots in Quickplay diminishes the experience and hinders skill development. While practice modes clearly utilize AI opponents, the presence of bots in Quickplay is less transparent. The prevailing theory suggests that Marvel Rivals might deploy bot-filled matches after a player experiences consecutive losses, potentially to mitigate frustration and maintain quick matchmaking times.

NetEase has yet to publicly address these concerns, fueling speculation. Players have identified several potential indicators of bot matches, including repetitive and unusual in-game behavior, similar player names (often single words in all caps, or name combinations like a full name paired with a partial name), and most notably, enemy profiles labeled "restricted."

The lack of transparency is a major point of contention. Players argue that the inability to distinguish between human and AI opponents makes it difficult to assess their actual skill improvement, particularly when practicing new heroes. The use of bots in multiplayer games is not unprecedented, but the situation in Marvel Rivals has sparked debate. Some players advocate for a toggle to enable or disable bot matches, while others call for their complete removal. A smaller segment of players utilize bot matches for achievement completion.

One Reddit user, ciaranxy, initiated a community discussion, highlighting the lack of player choice regarding bot encounters in Quickplay. The author confirms encountering suspicious matches exhibiting characteristics reported by other players, including unnatural player movement, similar names, and restricted enemy profiles. NetEase has been contacted for comment.

Despite this controversy, NetEase plans for continued growth in 2025, including the introduction of the Fantastic Four in Season 1 and the promise of a new hero every half-season. A new Spider-Man skin is also anticipated later this month. While the bot issue remains unresolved, the game's popularity and ongoing development continue. Further information on the use of bots in Marvel Rivals is awaited.