The Marvel Rivals Bot Conspiracy, Explained

Amid the soaring popularity of Marvel Rivals on Steam and Twitch, a lingering issue has sparked suspicion among its dedicated player base: the presence of bots. Since its launch in December, NetEase Games' new hero shooter has captivated fans with its dynamic gameplay and iconic Marvel characters such as Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the recently introduced Fantastic Four. The game has garnered immense success, with hundreds of thousands of daily active players on Steam alone, according to SteamDB. Despite its achievements, the integration of AI enemies in various game modes has become a focal point of concern for the community.

"I know people may feel differently but playing against bots in (Quickplay) just doesn’t feel good at all to me," expressed a Reddit user. "AI should be in AI modes and that’s it."

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Similar to many multiplayer games of the past decade and a half, Marvel Rivals includes practice modes where players can face off against bots, allowing them to adjust the difficulty and hone their skills. However, the issue arises with reports of bots infiltrating regular Quickplay matches. Over recent weeks, social media has been abuzz with players suspecting they are matched against low-level bots, and in some cases, their teammates are replaced by AI as well. 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 yet to provide clarity on the presence of bots in Quickplay, leaving players to speculate and share their findings on social media. Indicators of bot matches include repetitive in-game behavior, uniform naming conventions among teammates, and restricted career profiles for opponents. "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 remarked. "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, with similar discussions occurring in games like Fortnite. In the case of Marvel Rivals, players have proposed solutions ranging from an option to toggle bot matches to their complete removal. Some players even appreciate the occasional bot lobby as a chance to achieve specific hero milestones. Reddit user ciaranxy, who began questioning their matches post-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."

If you've spent considerable time with Marvel Rivals, chances are you've encountered one of these suspicious lobbies. My own experience confirmed at least one questionable Quickplay match, characterized by stiff player movements, similar naming patterns, and restricted profiles across the board. We've reached out to NetEase for further clarification on these matches and the alleged bot presence in Marvel Rivals.

As the community continues to investigate the bot issue, some players have found creative ways to counter them, such as using Invisible Woman to halt bots in their tracks. Looking ahead, NetEase has ambitious plans for 2025, starting with the Fantastic Four in Season 1: Eternal Night Falls. Creative director Guangyun Chen has promised to introduce at least one new hero every half-season, and fans can look forward to a new skin, Peter Parker’s Advanced Suit 2.0 from Marvel’s Spider-Man, later this month.