Marvel's 'Rivals' Mod Removed Amid Trump Controversy

Summary

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

Marvel Rivals, a recently released hero shooter, has quickly gained millions of players. Players frequently utilize mods to alter character appearances, ranging from cosmetic changes based on Marvel comics and films to more unusual additions. The now-removed mod replaced Captain America's in-game model with that of Donald Trump. This sparked online discussion, with some users seeking a corresponding Joe Biden mod.

Reason for Removal:

Nexus Mods' 2020 policy prohibiting mods involving US sociopolitical issues is cited as the reason for the removal. This policy was implemented around the time of the 2020 US presidential election. While the removal of the Trump mod has largely been accepted by the community, some users expressed dissatisfaction with Nexus Mods' stance on political content. It's noteworthy that, despite this policy, Trump-related mods persist on other modding platforms for games like Skyrim, Fallout 4, and XCOM 2.

Developer Response:

NetEase Games, the developer of Marvel Rivals, has not publicly addressed the controversy surrounding character mods, including those depicting political figures. The company is currently focused on addressing other game-related issues, such as bug fixes and resolving wrongful account bans.