Marvel Rivals Bot Conspiracy Unveiled

As Marvel Rivals continues to dominate the charts on Steam and Twitch, a troubling issue has sparked suspicion among its fanbase: the presence of bots. Launched in December to widespread critical acclaim and fan adoration for its stylish take on iconic characters like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the recently added Fantastic Four, the game has attracted hundreds of thousands of daily players on Steam alone, as reported by SteamDB. Despite its success and avoidance of common pitfalls in the hero shooter genre, players have been vocal about their concerns over the use of AI enemies in various game 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."

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

Like many multiplayer games released over the past 15 years, Marvel Rivals includes practice modes featuring bots, which allow players to adjust difficulty levels and hone their skills or take a break from competitive matches. However, the game has stirred controversy with the alleged inclusion of bots in standard Quickplay matches. For weeks, social media has been buzzing with player reports of facing low-level bot opponents and even having teammates replaced by bots. The prevailing theory suggests that these bot matches are triggered after a series of losses, potentially to prevent player frustration and reduce queue times.

NetEase has offered little transparency about the presence of bots in Quickplay, remaining silent on the issue despite inquiries from IGN. As players attempt to discern whether they are facing bots, certain signs have emerged as red flags. These include repetitive in-game behavior, similar naming conventions among teammates (such as all capital letters or split names), and the telltale "restricted" label on enemy career profiles.

"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 lamented. "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; similar discussions have surrounded games like Fortnite for years. Within the Marvel Rivals community, opinions vary. Some players advocate for an option to toggle bot matches on or off, others demand their complete removal, and a few appreciate bot lobbies as a chance to complete hero achievements. Reddit user ciaranxy, who began questioning their matches post-launch, encouraged the community to do the same, stating, "So, you can choose to believe this is an issue or not – that is your CHOICE. But – for everyone else – when you press Quickplay, NetEase does not give you a choice."

If you've spent more than a few hours playing Marvel Rivals since its launch, you may have encountered one of these questionable lobbies. I can personally attest to experiencing a suspicious Quickplay match that displayed several warning signs, such as stiff player movement, similarly structured names, and restricted profiles across both teams. We've reached out to NetEase for clarification on these matches and the alleged bot presence in Marvel Rivals.

Amidst the ongoing investigation into bots across gaming platforms, some Marvel Rivals players have found creative ways to counter them, such as using the Invisible Woman to halt bots in their tracks, as reported. Regardless of how NetEase addresses this issue, the company is looking forward to a promising 2025, beginning with the introduction of the Fantastic Four in Season 1: Eternal Night Falls. Creative director Guangyun Chen has committed to introducing at least one 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.