Marvel Rivalry Controversy Raises Concern

Summary

A Donald Trump character mod for the game Marvel Rivals has been removed from Nexus Mods, reportedly due to its violation of the platform's policies against mods involving sociopolitical issues. NetEase Games, the developer of Marvel Rivals, has yet to comment on the matter or the broader use of character mods within the game.

Marvel Rivals, a recently released hero shooter, has quickly gained millions of players. Players are experimenting with various mods to alter character appearances, ranging from alternate skins based on Marvel comics and films to even incorporating models from other games, such as Fortnite.

A Nexus Mods user created and uploaded a mod replacing Captain America's model with Donald Trump. This mod gained traction on social media, with some users even seeking out a corresponding Joe Biden mod for matches. However, both the Trump and Biden mods are now inaccessible on Nexus Mods, suggesting they were removed.

Reason for Removal:

Nexus Mods' 2020 policy prohibiting mods related to US sociopolitical issues is cited as the reason for the removal. This policy was implemented around the time of the 2020 US presidential election.

Social media reactions to the ban were mixed. Many players felt the mod was inappropriate given Captain America's established character, while others criticized Nexus Mods' stance on political content. It's noteworthy that while this instance involved Marvel Rivals, similar Trump mods have existed (and likely continue to exist) for 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's current focus appears to be on addressing bugs and resolving player account issues within the newly launched game.