Marvel Rivalsis set to launch on December 8th, and on that day, almost 200 accounts will have already been banned.

Clearly, the developers atNetEaseare taking this whole cheater thing pretty seriously.

Marvel Rivals Promo Art with Spiderman, Magneto, and Storm

The bans were specifically for “use of third-party unauthorized software & malicious client hacking activities,” which, in less professional terms, means being a very naughty nerd.

These bans come from the closed beta that Marvel Rivals conducted some months ago. It looks like they were testing more than just software functionality—it was also a chance to try out their anti-cheat, and they got more than a few hits.

marvel-rivals-team-up.jpg

Marvel Rivals and Destiny: Rising Dev Studio May Be Involved In $139M Money Laundering Scheme

One of the most baffling crime stories in recent gaming history.

NetEase is already aware of XIM converters - a device used to get keyboard/mouse aiming on consoles, among other things - and was especially interested in purging its use from their game.

Marvel Rivals new Heroes

In an interview withMP1st, they illustrated their zero-tolerance policy for cheating.

We not only invest significant resources to monitor and analyze battle data and suspend suspicious accounts, but we also dedicate substantial effort to robust server and client security. For example, concerning the XIM converters mentioned above, we have designed a system to identify their behavior, and it currently shows promising accuracy.

Apex Legends

It’s worth noting that NetEase was also asked about long-term plans and IP bans but gave no comment. The developers of Marvel Rivals are evidently keeping their cards close to their chest.

Similarly, we haven’t been told how exactly NetEase was detecting these cheaters. But considering the value of secrecy there, we’re unlikely to get that kind of information any time soon.

marvel rivals and overwatch

The Ongoing War Of Developers VS Cheaters

It’s no secret that game devs aren’t too fond of cheat devs, especially regarding free-to-play multiplayer experiences.

The nature of multiplayer means that cheating can ruin the game for others, and a zero-dollar price tag means cheaters risk little by being naughty little nerds.

Cheaters Cause Apex Legends To Abandon The Steam Deck

Apex Legends Cheaters ruin the Steam Deck for everyone, causing EA to pull the plug

Somedevelopers have been surprisingly creative when it comes to exiling cheaters—Deadlock is perhapsthe most recent example.

Others take a less extravagant route, looking to streamline things andspeedrun the entire banning process.

In any case, when Marvel Rivals launches, a new front in this eternal war will open up. Only time will tell how well things will go, but if this is any indication, the developers at NetEase will look to stay one step ahead at all times.

Marvel Rivals Is Already Being Labelled As An Overwatch Rip-Off

The upcoming team-based PvP shooter is already getting some flack from Overwatch players.