Marvel Rivals Bot Conspiracy Unveiled

As *Marvel Rivals* continues to dominate both the Steam and Twitch charts, a lingering issue has sparked suspicion among its fanbase: the presence of bots. Launched in December, this superhero-themed competitive multiplayer game quickly garnered critical acclaim and fan praise, thanks to its stylish execution and the innovative use of iconic characters like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the recently introduced Fantastic Four. The game's success is evident, with hundreds of thousands of players still actively engaging with *Marvel Rivals* on Steam daily, as reported by SteamDB. Despite its overall positive reception, NetEase Games' new hero shooter has faced persistent concerns from the community regarding the integration 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

Much like other multiplayer games launched in the past 15 years, *Marvel Rivals* offers practice modes where players can hone their skills against AI-driven bots, with adjustable difficulty settings to cater to individual needs. These modes serve as excellent tools for skill improvement or as a less intense break from competitive human matches. However, *Marvel Rivals* has encountered criticism due to the suspected presence of bots in its standard Quickplay matches.

For weeks, social media platforms have been inundated with posts from users suspecting they are being matched against low-level bot players, and sometimes, even their teammates appear to be replaced by bots. The prevailing theory suggests that *Marvel Rivals* might deploy these easier matches following a series of losses, possibly to prevent player frustration and reduce queue times. However, NetEase has not provided clear information on the use of bots in Quickplay, and despite requests for comment from IGN, the company remains silent on the matter. This lack of transparency has led players to identify potential signs of bot matches, such as repetitive in-game behavior, uniform naming conventions among teammates (like all capital letters or split names), and the telltale "restricted" label on every enemy's career profile.

"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 stated. "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 the ability to toggle bot matches, while others demand their complete removal. A segment of the player base appreciates the occasional bot match as an opportunity to achieve specific hero milestones. Reddit user ciaranxy, who began questioning their matches shortly after the game's launch, urged the community to scrutinize their experiences in a widely discussed post.

"So, you can choose to believe this is an issue or not – that is your CHOICE," ciaranxy remarked in their post. "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 might have encountered one of these questionable lobbies. My personal experience confirms running into at least one suspicious Quickplay match, characterized by several red flags players have highlighted, including unnatural player movements, uniform naming patterns, and a team of players with restricted profiles. We have reached out to NetEase for clarification on these matches and the alleged use of bots in *Marvel Rivals*.

While the community continues to investigate the bot issue, some players have discovered clever ways to counter bots, such as using the Invisible Woman to halt their progress, as detailed in this article. Despite these controversies, NetEase is looking forward to a promising future in 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 fans can look forward to a new skin later this month with Peter Parker’s Advanced Suit 2.0 from Marvel’s Spider-Man.