Marvel Rivals Bot Controversy Explained

Marvel Rivals, currently dominating Steam and Twitch charts, faces a growing controversy: the suspected presence of bots. Since its December launch, the game has garnered praise for its style and iconic Marvel characters. Its popularity is undeniable, with hundreds of thousands of daily Steam players (via SteamDB). However, concerns are mounting regarding AI opponents in various game modes.

"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, includes practice modes with adjustable difficulty AI opponents. The issue lies in the suspected inclusion of bots in standard Quickplay matches. Numerous social media posts detail experiences with low-level bot opponents and even bot teammates. The suspected trigger? Too many consecutive losses, potentially designed to prevent player frustration and maintain quick matchmaking.

NetEase remains silent on the matter (IGN has requested comment), leaving players to speculate. Suspicions are fueled by unusual in-game behavior, similar player names (often single words in all caps, or split names), and enemy profiles labeled "restricted."

"The game doesn't tell you you're against bots," another Reddit user stated. "Trying to learn heroes in Quickplay becomes difficult, unsure if improvement is real or just easy bot wins."

Bot usage in multiplayer games is common, with debates around their impact in games like Fortnite. Regarding Marvel Rivals, some players request a bot toggle, others complete removal. Some even use bot matches for achievement completion. Reddit user ciaranxy highlighted this issue early on, prompting community discussion.

"You can choose to believe this is an issue or not," ciaranxy's post reads. "But NetEase doesn't give you a choice in Quickplay."

Many players report encountering suspicious Quickplay matches with characteristics like stiff player movement, similar names, and restricted profiles for both teammates and opponents. NetEase has been contacted for clarification.

Meanwhile, players explore strategies like using Invisible Woman to counter suspected bots (see how some Marvel Rivals players are using the Invisible Woman to literally stop bots in their tracks). NetEase plans for a busy 2025, starting with Season 1: Eternal Night Falls featuring the Fantastic Four. Creative director Guangyun Chen promises at least one new hero per half-season, and a new Peter Parker skin, the Advanced Suit 2.0 from Marvel’s Spider-Man, arrives later this month.