Marvel Rivals Bot Conspiracy Unveiled

As *Marvel Rivals* continues to dominate the Steam and Twitch charts, a growing concern among fans revolves around the presence of bots in NetEase Games' latest hero shooter. Launched in December, the game has garnered critical acclaim and widespread fan appreciation for its innovative take on iconic characters like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the recently added Fantastic Four. With hundreds of thousands of daily players on Steam alone (via SteamDB), *Marvel Rivals* has largely sidestepped many common pitfalls in the genre. However, the inclusion of AI enemies in various game modes has sparked weeks of debate and dissatisfaction among the player base.

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

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

In line with other multiplayer titles of the past 15 years, *Marvel Rivals* offers practice modes featuring AI opponents, commonly known as "bots." These modes allow players to adjust the difficulty to suit their needs, serving as essential tools for skill enhancement or casual play. The issue arises when these bots allegedly appear in standard Quickplay matches, causing unrest among players.

Over recent weeks, social media platforms have been flooded with concerns from players suspecting they are matched against low-level bots, with some even noticing that their teammates are occasionally replaced by AI. The community speculates that these bot matches are triggered after a series of losses, a strategy aimed at preventing player discouragement and reducing queue times.

NetEase has not provided clear transparency regarding the presence of bots in Quickplay, leaving players to speculate and share their observations. Notable signs of bot matches include repetitive in-game behaviors, similar teammate names (often single words in all caps or split names), and restricted career profiles across entire enemy teams. One Reddit user voiced frustration, stating, "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. 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 isn't new, with similar discussions occurring in games like Fortnite. In *Marvel Rivals*, players have suggested options to toggle bot matches on or off, or even remove the feature entirely. Some players appreciate the occasional bot lobby as it allows them to complete specific hero achievements. Reddit user ciaranxy, after experiencing questionable matches, called on the community to investigate, emphasizing that players have no choice in the matter when selecting Quickplay.

For those who have spent considerable time with *Marvel Rivals* since its launch, encountering a suspicious lobby is not uncommon. I can personally confirm running into a match with all the telltale signs of bots, including restricted profiles and stiff player movements. We have reached out to NetEase for clarification on these matches and the alleged bot presence.

Amidst the bot controversy, some players have found creative ways to deal with them, such as using the Invisible Woman to halt AI opponents in their tracks (learn more here). Looking ahead, NetEase has ambitious plans for *Marvel Rivals* in 2025, starting with the introduction of the Fantastic Four in Season 1: Eternal Night Falls (details here). Creative director Guangyun Chen has committed to releasing at least one new hero every half-season, and fans can soon acquire Peter Parker’s Advanced Suit 2.0 from Marvel’s Spider-Man (more info here).