NetEase Games has warned Marvel Rivals players to delete unauthorized modifications immediately, following the temporary lifting of account suspensions issued over the past two days for using game-altering client files.
Key points
- NetEase Games reversed suspensions issued over two days to give players a chance to remove unauthorized mods.
- Prohibited mods alter memory injection, player hitboxes, weapon recoil, visual effects, and in-game audio cues.
- Players must manually remove specific files, including pystubber.asi and MarvelRivalsUnmountBlocker.asi, to avoid automated bans.
- Accounts flagged for wrongful suspensions can request a manual review through the official customer support portal.
According to a NetEase Games announcement published on October 15, the developer reversed the recent wave of disciplinary actions to grant affected users an opportunity to clean their game installations. The studio emphasized that this reprieve is a one-time measure, not an endorsement of third-party add-ons, and warned that future infractions will trigger strict and permanent penalties.
Detection Triggers and Prohibited Mod Behaviors
The studio discovered during recent anti-cheat sweeps that several popular community modifications rely on memory injection and client runtime modification. These technical behaviors directly mimic the operations of cheat engines, triggering automated flags within the studio’s anti-cheat security system.
The crackdown arrives as the studio tightens rules against disruptive behavior, having recently expanded automated penalties for AFK players, match throwers, and early quitters. The studio highlighted four primary categories of unauthorized modifications that breach game balance:
- Model and texture changes: Creating asymmetrical sightlines across map geometry to produce an unfair visibility advantage.
- Recoil and VFX suppression: Removing weapon kick, screen shake, bullet tracer lines, and impact effects to ease tracking and aiming.
- Audio alterations: Amplifying footsteps and directional sound effects to expose enemy positions through terrain.
- Enlarged character models: Expanding opponent model sizes to make targeting and identification easier during team fights.
The studio classified all modifications displaying these attributes as balance-breaking exploits. Any player who continues running software that provides an uneven tactical advantage will face immediate penalties under the game’s independent tier enforcement system.
Specific Files Flagged for Immediate Removal
To help players avoid automated sanctions, the developers identified specific system files that must be removed manually from installation directories. The team singled out pystubber.asi and MarvelRivalsUnmountBlocker.asi as known triggers for the anti-cheat scanner.
These .asi loader libraries modify how the executable interacts with protected memory spaces. Players running customized files introduced alongside the recent Marvel Rivals update must verify their client directory and delete any lingering hooks before launching matchmaking.
Users who encounter technical discrepancies or who believe their accounts received an erroneous sanction during the initial sweep can submit an official appeal. NetEase confirmed that customer support staff will manually review appeal tickets and reverse verified false positives.
Enforcement Rules and Cosmetic Add-Ons
The studio’s policy clarifies limits for gameplay modifications, but questions remain regarding purely visual modifications. Earlier content patches for Marvel Rivals brought specialized cosmetic options, prompting some players to test custom local skins.
NetEase has not stated whether client-side aesthetic changes that alter nothing beyond a player’s own view will remain prohibited during active matches. Competitive balance remains the stated priority for the developer, particularly across ranked playlists and experimental match types introduced during Marvel Rivals Season 10.5.
The team stated it intends to maintain an equitable competitive environment while exploring safe customization options. Further guidance on acceptable file structures is expected once the current ban wave review concludes.
