As *Marvel Rivals* continues to dominate the charts on Steam and Twitch, a pressing issue has sparked debate among fans of NetEase Games' latest hero shooter: the use of bots. Launched in December to widespread acclaim, the game has captivated players with its unique take on iconic Marvel characters, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the newly introduced Fantastic Four. With hundreds of thousands of daily players on Steam alone, as reported by SteamDB, *Marvel Rivals* has largely sidestepped common issues plaguing other games in its genre. However, the integration of AI enemies in various game modes has become a focal point of concern for the community.
"I know people may feel differently but playing against bots in (Quickplay) just doesn’t feel good at all to me," expressed a Reddit user. "AI should be in AI modes and that’s it."
### Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best HeroesMarvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
Like many multiplayer titles released in the last decade and a half, *Marvel Rivals* features practice modes where players can hone their skills against AI-controlled "bots." These modes allow users to adjust the difficulty level, making them invaluable for skill improvement and providing a respite from the intensity of matches against human opponents. However, the game faces criticism due to reports of bots appearing in standard Quickplay matches.
For several weeks, social media has been inundated with posts from players who suspect they're being matched against low-level bots, and occasionally, their teammates are replaced by AI as well. The community theorizes that *Marvel Rivals* might deploy these bot matches following a string of losses to prevent players from feeling discouraged and to expedite matchmaking. Yet, NetEase has not provided clear information on whether bots are indeed used in Quickplay, leaving players to speculate and seek answers themselves.
Social media discussions have highlighted several red flags that might indicate a bot match, including repetitive in-game behavior, uniform naming conventions among teammates—such as all capital letters or split names—and the "restricted" label on every opponent's career profile. "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 commented. "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 is not new; similar discussions have been ongoing in the *Fortnite* community for years. In the case of *Marvel Rivals*, some players advocate for a toggle to enable or disable bot matches, while others demand their complete removal. A segment of the player base finds value in occasional bot lobbies, using them to achieve specific hero milestones. Reddit user ciaranxy, who began questioning their matches soon after the game's launch, urged the community to investigate further. "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 spent significant time with *Marvel Rivals* since its release, you may have encountered one of these contentious lobbies. I personally experienced a suspicious Quickplay match that exhibited several warning signs mentioned by players, such as unnatural player movement, uniform naming, and multiple restricted profiles. We have reached out to NetEase for clarification on these matches and the alleged presence of bots in *Marvel Rivals*.
Amidst the ongoing investigation into bots, some *Marvel Rivals* players have discovered innovative ways to counter them, such as using the Invisible Woman to halt bot movements. Looking ahead, NetEase has ambitious plans for 2025, starting with *Season 1: Eternal Night Falls* featuring the Fantastic Four. Creative director Guangyun Chen has committed to introducing at least one new hero every half-season, and fans can look forward to a new skin for Peter Parker's Advanced Suit 2.0 from *Marvel's Spider-Man* later this month.
