Marvel Rivals Apologizes for Banning Non-Cheaters

Marvel Rivals Issues Apology for Wrongful Bans; Players Advocate for Expanded Character Ban Feature

NetEase, the developer of Marvel Rivals, recently issued a public apology for mistakenly banning a significant number of innocent players. The incident, which occurred on January 3rd, saw numerous non-Windows users—specifically those playing on macOS, Linux, and Steam Deck using compatibility layers—incorrectly flagged as cheaters.

The mass ban, intended to target cheaters, inadvertently affected players utilizing compatibility software like Proton (on SteamOS), which is known to trigger some anti-cheat systems. NetEase has since reversed the bans and apologized for the inconvenience. They also encouraged players to report genuine cheating and outlined the appeal process for wrongful bans.

Separately, a community discussion has emerged regarding the game's character ban system. Currently, this feature—allowing players to remove specific characters from selection—is only available in Diamond rank and above. Many players, particularly those in lower ranks, are advocating for its expansion to all ranks. They argue that this would provide valuable learning opportunities for newer players, promote more diverse team compositions, and create a more balanced competitive environment. The sentiment is echoed across the game's subreddit, with players expressing frustration at facing overpowered characters without the ability to counter them through bans.

While NetEase hasn't yet publicly responded to these calls for change, the community's feedback highlights a desire for greater balance and accessibility within the competitive aspects of Marvel Rivals.