Marvel Mod Removed Amid Donald Trump Controversy

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 platform's established rules against such content. NetEase Games, the developer of Marvel Rivals, has yet to comment on the use of character mods, including those featuring controversial figures.

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

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

Reasons for Removal:

Nexus Mods' 2020 policy prohibits mods related to US sociopolitical issues. This policy, implemented around the time of the 2020 presidential election, aims to maintain a neutral environment on the platform.

The mod's removal has generated mixed reactions. While many Marvel Rivals players found the mod unsurprising or even unsuitable given Captain America's established persona, some expressed dissatisfaction with Nexus Mods' stance on political content. It's worth noting that, despite Nexus Mods' 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 or the removal of the Trump mod. The company is currently focused on addressing other game-related issues, including bug fixes and resolving wrongful account bans.