Marvel Rivals Issues Apology for Unjust Bans
NetEase, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, recently issued a public apology for mistakenly banning numerous innocent players. The mass ban, intended to target cheaters, inadvertently flagged a significant number of non-Windows users employing compatibility layers like those used on macOS, Linux, and Steam Deck.
Accidental Bans Impact Non-Windows Players
On January 3rd, the community manager, James, announced on the official Discord server that players utilizing compatibility software had been wrongly identified as cheaters. NetEase's anti-cheat measures apparently misidentified these players, leading to unfair bans. The developer has since rectified the situation, lifting the bans and apologizing for the inconvenience. Players experiencing cheating are encouraged to report it, and those wrongly banned can appeal through in-game support or Discord. This isn't the first instance of Proton, the SteamOS compatibility layer, triggering anti-cheat systems.
Calls for Universal Character Bans
Separately, a different type of ban is generating considerable discussion within the Marvel Rivals community: character bans. 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, believe this mechanic should be implemented across all ranks. Reddit users express frustration, highlighting the imbalance created by the absence of character bans in lower tiers, making gameplay less enjoyable and hindering strategic diversity. They argue that universal character bans would provide a more balanced experience, introduce newer players to the mechanic, and encourage more diverse team compositions beyond simple DPS strategies. While NetEase hasn't yet responded to this feedback, the community's desire for change is clear.
