While Marvel Rivals continues to dominate the charts on Steam and Twitch, a growing issue has left fans questioning their experience with NetEase Games' new hero shooter: the presence of bots.
Launched in December, Marvel Rivals quickly garnered critical acclaim and fan adoration for its stylish execution and innovative use of iconic characters like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the recently introduced Fantastic Four. The game's popularity remains strong, with hundreds of thousands of players engaging daily on Steam alone (via SteamDB). Despite avoiding many common pitfalls of the genre, the community has been vocal about their concerns regarding the integration of AI enemies in various game modes.
“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 HeroesMarvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
Like numerous multiplayer games released in the past 15 years, Marvel Rivals features practice modes where players can hone their skills against AI-driven bots. These modes allow users to adjust the difficulty to their preference, serving as essential tools for skill development or relaxation between competitive matches. However, the game faces criticism due to the alleged presence of bots in standard Quickplay matches.
For weeks, social media platforms have been inundated with reports from players who believe they are being matched against low-level bot players, with some even noticing their teammates being replaced by bots. The exact triggers for these bot matches remain unclear, but a prevailing theory suggests that Marvel Rivals might insert players into these easier matches after consecutive losses. This approach could prevent players from feeling discouraged and help reduce queue times.
Unfortunately, NetEase has provided little transparency about the presence of bots in Quickplay matches, and the company has yet to respond to inquiries (IGN has requested comment). Social media posts have highlighted potential indicators of bot matches, including repetitive in-game behavior, uniform naming conventions among teammates (such as all caps or split names), and restricted career profiles for every opponent.
“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,” another Reddit user remarked. “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 use of bots in multiplayer games is not a new phenomenon; players have long debated their impact on games like Fortnite. In the case of Marvel Rivals, some players advocate for the ability to toggle bot matches on or off, while others demand their complete removal. Conversely, some players appreciate the occasional bot lobby as a chance to complete specific hero achievements. Reddit user ciaranxy, who began questioning matches shortly after launch, encouraged the community to scrutinize their games.
“So, you can choose to believe this is an issue or not – that is your CHOICE,” ciaranxy stated. “But – for everyone else – when you press Quickplay, NetEase does not give you a choice.”
If you've played Marvel Rivals for several hours since its release, you might have encountered one of these suspicious lobbies. I can confirm experiencing at least one questionable Quickplay match that displayed several of the warning signs mentioned by players, including unnatural player movement, similar naming patterns, and restricted profiles for multiple teammates and opponents. We have reached out to NetEase for clarification on these matches and the alleged bot presence in Marvel Rivals.
As players continue to investigate bot usage across gaming, you can learn more about how some Marvel Rivals players are using the Invisible Woman to literally stop bots in their tracks. Regardless of the outcome of this controversy, NetEase is poised for a promising future in 2025, beginning with the Fantastic Four in Season 1: Eternal Night Falls. Creative director Guangyun Chen has pledged to introduce at least one new hero every half-season, and later this month, fans can look forward to acquiring a new skin in the form of Peter Parker’s Advanced Suit 2.0 from Marvel’s Spider-Man.
