The Marvel Rivals Bot Conspiracy, Explained

Marvel Rivals' Popularity Shadowed by Bot Controversy

Despite topping Steam and Twitch charts, Marvel Rivals, NetEase Games' hero shooter, faces growing player concerns 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 hundreds of thousands of daily Steam players (via SteamDB). However, weeks after launch, a significant portion of the player base suspects the inclusion of AI opponents in standard Quickplay, not just the designated practice modes.

Reddit users have voiced their frustration, stating that playing against bots in Quickplay diminishes the experience. The consensus is that AI opponents should be confined to dedicated AI modes. While practice modes clearly indicate AI opponents and allow difficulty adjustments, the suspected presence of bots in Quickplay matches is sparking controversy.

Social media is rife with posts detailing suspected bot matches, often characterized by low-skill opponents, AI teammates, and seemingly coordinated enemy behaviors. A prevailing theory suggests that Marvel Rivals strategically places players against bots after consecutive losses, potentially to prevent player frustration and maintain short queue times.

NetEase has yet to publicly address these concerns, leaving players to speculate. Suspected bot indicators highlighted by players include repetitive and unusual in-game actions, similar player names (often single words in all caps or partial names), and enemy profiles labeled "restricted." The lack of transparency regarding bot implementation fuels player discontent.

One Reddit user highlighted the impact on learning new heroes: practicing in competitive modes risks angering human players, but Quickplay matches may be artificially inflated with bot victories, hindering accurate skill assessment.

The use of bots in online games is not new, but the lack of transparency in Marvel Rivals is a key point of contention. Players are divided: some demand a toggle to enable or disable bot matches, others want the feature removed entirely. A smaller group accepts occasional bot matches as opportunities to complete hero-specific achievements.

A Reddit post by user ciaranxy urged the community to scrutinize their matches, emphasizing the lack of player choice regarding bot encounters in Quickplay. The author personally confirms encountering suspicious matches with characteristics consistent with player reports. NetEase has been contacted for comment.

Despite this controversy, NetEase plans for a robust 2025, including the Fantastic Four in Season 1: Eternal Night Falls, a new hero every half-season, and a new Peter Parker skin (Advanced Suit 2.0). However, the bot issue remains a significant challenge to the game's long-term success. While some players are finding ways to counter suspected bots (such as using the Invisible Woman's abilities), the lack of official acknowledgement from NetEase leaves a significant question mark hanging over the future of Marvel Rivals.