The Marvel Rivals Bot Conspiracy, Explained

Marvel Rivals, currently dominating Steam and Twitch charts, is facing scrutiny over the suspected use of bots. This popular superhero-themed competitive shooter, launched in December to widespread acclaim, boasts a roster of iconic characters like Spider-Man and Wolverine, recently expanded to include the Fantastic Four. Its success is undeniable, with hundreds of thousands of daily Steam players (via SteamDB). However, a persistent concern among players centers on the presence of AI opponents in seemingly standard Quickplay matches.

"Playing against bots in Quickplay just doesn't feel good," one Reddit user commented. "AI should be in AI modes only."

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

Marvel Rivals, like many multiplayer games, features practice modes clearly utilizing AI opponents, adjustable in difficulty. These are valuable for skill improvement. The controversy arises from suspected bot inclusion in standard Quickplay matches.

Numerous social media posts detail encounters with seemingly low-level bot players, sometimes even replacing human teammates. The suspected trigger remains unclear, but a prevailing theory suggests Marvel Rivals places players in easier matches after consecutive losses, potentially mitigating player frustration and reducing queue times.

NetEase, however, has remained silent on this issue (IGN has requested comment), leaving players to speculate. Suspicions are fueled by observations such as repetitive, unusual in-game behavior, similar player names (often single words in all caps or partial names), and enemy profiles labeled "restricted."

"The game doesn't tell you you're against bots," another Reddit user noted. "Trying to learn heroes in Quickplay becomes unreliable, as you can't distinguish skill improvement from artificially easy wins."

Bot usage in multiplayer games is nothing new (Fortnite players have debated this for years). Regarding Marvel Rivals, some players advocate for a bot toggle, others for complete removal, while some find bot matches useful for specific achievements. Reddit user ciaranxy initiated a community discussion: "When you press Quickplay, NetEase doesn't give you a choice."

Having played Marvel Rivals extensively, I can confirm encountering suspicious Quickplay matches exhibiting characteristics players have highlighted: unnatural player movement, similarly structured names, and teams with "restricted" profiles. We have contacted NetEase for clarification.

Meanwhile, players are exploring strategies to counter bots, as seen in this article on using Invisible Woman. Despite this controversy, NetEase plans an ambitious 2025, starting with Season 1: Eternal Night Falls featuring the Fantastic Four, promising at least one new hero per half-season, and a new Peter Parker skin, the Advanced Suit 2.0 from Marvel’s Spider-Man, later this month.