Marvel Modding Controversy Surfaces

Summary

A Donald Trump character mod for the game Marvel Rivals has been removed from Nexus Mods, reportedly due to its sociopolitical nature, violating the modding platform's established rules. NetEase Games, the developer of Marvel Rivals, has yet to comment on the matter of character mods.

Marvel Rivals, a recently released hero shooter, has quickly gained millions of players. Players are experimenting with various strategies and utilizing mods to customize their gameplay experience. These mods range from cosmetic changes based on Marvel comics and films to replacing default character models with those from other games, such as Fortnite.

A mod replacing Captain America's model with Donald Trump circulated on social media, sparking interest and even searches for a corresponding Joe Biden mod. However, both mods are now inaccessible on Nexus Mods, indicating removal by the platform.

Reasons for Removal:

Nexus Mods' 2020 policy prohibiting mods related to US sociopolitical issues is cited as the reason for the ban. This policy, implemented around the time of the 2020 US presidential election, aims to prevent potentially divisive content.

Social media reactions are mixed. Many players found the ban unsurprising, highlighting the incongruity of Trump's image with Captain America's. Others expressed dissatisfaction with Nexus Mods' stance on political content in mods. It's worth noting that, despite this policy, Trump-related mods persist in other games like Skyrim, Fallout 4, and XCOM 2.

NetEase Games, the game developer, has not publicly addressed the use of character mods, including those featuring controversial figures, within Marvel Rivals. The company is currently focused on addressing other game-related issues such as bug fixes and resolving wrongful account bans.