Summary
A Donald Trump skin mod for the game Marvel Rivals has been removed from Nexus Mods due to its sociopolitical nature, violating the platform's established rules against such content. The game's developer, NetEase Games, has yet to comment on the use of character mods, including those depicting controversial figures.
Marvel Rivals, a hero shooter released recently, has attracted millions of players. Players have been creating and sharing mods to alter character appearances, ranging from alternate skins to crossovers with other franchises. A mod replacing Captain America's model with Donald Trump gained attention on social media, prompting searches for a similar Joe Biden mod. However, both mods are now inaccessible on Nexus Mods, resulting in error messages.
Reasons for Removal:
Nexus Mods' policy, implemented in 2020 amidst a highly contested US election, prohibits mods related to US sociopolitical issues. This decision aligns with their stated aim to maintain a neutral platform. While the removal of the Trump mod has been met with mixed reactions online, with some citing the incongruity of Trump's likeness with Captain America's character, it's not an unprecedented action. Mods featuring Trump have been removed from Nexus Mods in the past, though some still exist for other games like Skyrim, Fallout 4, and XCOM 2.
Developer Inaction:
NetEase Games, the developer of Marvel Rivals, hasn't publicly addressed the use of character mods or the removal of the Trump mod from Nexus Mods. The company is currently focused on addressing other issues, such as gameplay bugs and resolving wrongful account bans.
