Marvel Rivals Bot Conspiracy Unveiled

While Marvel Rivals continues to dominate the Steam and Twitch charts, a growing issue has fans questioning their experience with NetEase Games' latest hero shooter: the presence of bots. Launched in December to widespread acclaim, Marvel Rivals has captivated players with its stylish gameplay and the inclusion of iconic characters such as Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the Fantastic Four. The game's success is evident, with hundreds of thousands of players logging in daily on Steam alone, according to SteamDB. However, amidst its triumphs, the game faces scrutiny over the implementation of AI enemies in several of its modes.

"I know people may feel differently but playing against bots in (Quickplay) just doesn’t feel good at all to me," expressed one Reddit user. "AI should be in AI modes and that’s it."

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Like many multiplayer games released in the past 15 years, Marvel Rivals includes practice modes where players face off against AI-driven bots, which can be adjusted for difficulty. These modes are essential for players looking to hone their skills or take a break from the intensity of matches against human opponents. However, the game is encountering criticism due to the alleged presence of bots in regular Quickplay matches.

Over recent weeks, social media platforms have been inundated with posts from users suspecting they are matched against low-level bot players, and sometimes even their teammates are replaced by bots. Theories suggest that these bot matches might be triggered after a series of losses, potentially to prevent players from feeling discouraged and to reduce queue times. Yet, NetEase has provided little clarity on whether bots are indeed part of Quickplay, and the company has remained silent on the issue despite inquiries from IGN.

Players have been sharing potential red flags to identify bot matches, such as repetitive in-game behaviors, uniform naming conventions among teammates (like all capital letters or split names), and the telltale sign of "restricted" career profiles for every enemy. "The fact that you can even get bot games after wins and that the game doesn't tell you that you're against bots is what gets me about this," another Reddit user commented. "You don't want to learn new heroes in comp because people will understandably rage at you for doing that, but if you try to learn a hero in (Quickplay) you now have to second guess if you actually are getting any better on that hero or if the game is just making you think you are because it's handing you free wins in the form of bots."

The debate over bots in multiplayer games is not new, with similar discussions occurring in games like Fortnite. In the case of Marvel Rivals, opinions vary: some players demand the ability to toggle bot matches on or off, others call for their complete removal, while a few appreciate bot lobbies as a way to achieve specific hero milestones. Reddit user ciaranxy, who began questioning their matches post-launch, urged the community to stay vigilant. "So, you can choose to believe this is an issue or not – that is your CHOICE," ciaranxy stated. "But – for everyone else – when you press Quickplay, NetEase does not give you a choice."

If you've spent considerable time playing Marvel Rivals since its launch, chances are you've encountered one of these contentious lobbies. I can personally attest to running into at least one suspicious Quickplay match that displayed several of the warning signs mentioned by players, including unnatural player movements, similar naming patterns, and multiple restricted profiles. We have reached out to NetEase for further clarification on these matches and the alleged bot presence in Marvel Rivals.

As the gaming community continues to probe the bot issue, some Marvel Rivals players have discovered innovative ways to counter bots, such as using the Invisible Woman's abilities. Despite the controversy, NetEase is forging ahead with ambitious plans for 2025, starting with the introduction of the Fantastic Four in Season 1: Eternal Night Falls. Creative director Guangyun Chen has committed to introducing a new hero every half-season, and later this month, fans can look forward to acquiring Peter Parker's Advanced Suit 2.0 from Marvel's Spider-Man.