Marvel Rivals' Popularity Clouded by Bot Concerns
Despite topping Steam and Twitch charts, Marvel Rivals, NetEase Games' new hero shooter, faces growing player suspicion regarding the prevalence of bots in its Quickplay matches. The game, lauded for its style and iconic Marvel characters like Spider-Man and Wolverine, boasts a large player base. However, weeks after launch, a significant portion of the community expresses concern over encountering AI opponents in standard Quickplay modes, not just the designated practice modes.
Reddit users have voiced frustration, stating that facing bots in Quickplay diminishes the experience and that AI should be confined to dedicated AI modes. The suspicion stems from observations of unusual in-game behavior, similar player names (often single words in all caps or partially formed names), and consistently "restricted" enemy profiles. A prevailing theory suggests that the game strategically places players against bots after a series of losses, potentially to prevent player frustration and maintain quick matchmaking.
NetEase has yet to publicly address these concerns, fueling speculation and community investigations. Players have proposed solutions, ranging from a toggle to disable bot matches to complete removal of the feature. Some players, however, utilize bot matches for achievement completion. The lack of transparency regarding bot implementation is a central point of contention. One Reddit user highlights the inability to practice new heroes in competitive modes without facing potential backlash, while Quickplay matches are now suspect due to the potential presence of bots.
The use of bots in online games is not new, but the lack of clarity in Marvel Rivals has ignited debate. While some players remain unconcerned, others demand more transparency and control over their matchmaking experience. The issue has prompted community discussions and investigations into identifying bot matches. The author confirms encountering a suspicious match exhibiting characteristics reported by other players.
Despite this controversy, NetEase remains optimistic about the game's future, planning new content including the Fantastic Four in Season 1 and a new hero every half-season. A new Spider-Man skin is also on the horizon. Whether or not NetEase addresses the bot issue remains to be seen. For further information on community strategies to deal with suspected bots, see the linked article on using Invisible Woman.
