The Marvel Rivals Bot Conspiracy, Explained

As Marvel Rivals continues to dominate the charts on Steam and Twitch, a growing concern among fans revolves around the presence of bots within NetEase Games' latest hero shooter. Launched in December, the game has quickly garnered critical acclaim and widespread fan appreciation for its dynamic use of iconic Marvel characters such as Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the recently added Fantastic Four. Despite its success, with hundreds of thousands of players engaging daily on Steam alone (via SteamDB), the game faces scrutiny over its implementation 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." This sentiment reflects a broader frustration among the player base, particularly with the perceived infiltration of bots into standard Quickplay matches.

Like many multiplayer games of the past 15 years, Marvel Rivals includes practice modes where players can hone their skills against AI-driven opponents, commonly referred to as "bots." These modes allow players to adjust the difficulty level, making them ideal for skill improvement and less intense gameplay sessions. However, the issue arises when these bots appear in regular Quickplay matches, leading to player dissatisfaction.

Over recent weeks, social media platforms have been abuzz with reports from users suspecting they are matched against low-level bots, sometimes even finding their teammates replaced by AI. The community theorizes that these bot matches may be triggered after a string of losses, intended to boost player morale and reduce queue times. Yet, NetEase has not been forthcoming about the presence of bots in Quickplay, leaving players to speculate and seek their own answers.

Players have identified several telltale signs of bot matches, including repetitive in-game behaviors, similarly structured player names, and restricted career profiles on every enemy's account. "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 commented. This lack of transparency has led to concerns about whether players are truly improving or merely being handed easy wins.

The debate over bots in multiplayer games is not new, with similar discussions occurring in games like Fortnite. Within the Marvel Rivals community, opinions vary: some players demand the ability to toggle bot matches, others call for their complete removal, and a few see bot lobbies as a chance to achieve specific hero milestones. Reddit user ciaranxy, who began questioning their matches shortly after the game's launch, urged the community to stay vigilant.

"So, you can choose to believe this is an issue or not – that is your CHOICE," ciaranxy stated. "But – for everyone else – when you press Quickplay, NetEase does not give you a choice."

For those who have invested significant time into Marvel Rivals since its launch, encountering one of these questionable lobbies is likely. Personal experiences, including matches with stiff player movements, similar names, and restricted profiles, reinforce the community's concerns. NetEase has been approached for clarification on these matters and the alleged use of bots in Marvel Rivals.

While the bot controversy unfolds, some players are creatively countering AI challenges, such as using Invisible Woman to halt bots in their tracks (learn more here). Looking ahead, NetEase has ambitious plans for 2025, starting 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 fans can look forward to Peter Parker’s Advanced Suit 2.0 from Marvel’s Spider-Man later this month.