Marvel Rivals Reverses Controversial Non-Cheater Ban

Marvel Rivals Issues Apology for Unfair Bans; Players Advocate for Expanded Character Ban System

NetEase, the developer of Marvel Rivals, recently issued a public apology for mistakenly banning a significant number of innocent players. The mass ban, intended to target cheaters, inadvertently flagged numerous non-Windows users employing compatibility layers like those used on macOS, Linux, and Steam Deck.

The erroneous bans, implemented on January 3rd, affected players utilizing compatibility software to run the game on non-Windows operating systems. NetEase acknowledged the error, stating that these players were incorrectly identified as cheaters despite not using any cheating software. The company has since reversed the bans and apologized for the inconvenience. Players experiencing genuine cheating are encouraged to report it, and those wrongly banned can appeal through in-game support or Discord. This incident highlights the challenges posed by compatibility layers, particularly Proton on SteamOS, which are known to trigger some anti-cheat systems.

Separately, a community discussion has emerged regarding the game's character ban system. Currently, this feature—allowing players to remove specific characters from selection—is only available at Diamond rank and above. Many players, particularly those in lower ranks, express frustration at the lack of this mechanic in their respective tiers. They argue that character bans would enhance gameplay balance, facilitate strategic diversity, and provide a more level playing field. The absence of character bans in lower ranks is seen as hindering skill development and preventing less experienced players from experimenting with various team compositions.

Reddit discussions highlight player sentiment, with many advocating for a rank-agnostic character ban system. While NetEase hasn't yet publicly responded to this feedback, the demand for a more inclusive character ban mechanic is gaining traction within the Marvel Rivals community.