Trump-Themed Marvel Mod Banned

Summary

A Donald Trump character mod for the 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. NetEase Games, the developer of Marvel Rivals, has yet to comment on the matter or the broader use of character mods within the game.

Marvel Rivals, a recently released hero shooter, has quickly gained millions of players. Players are utilizing mods to customize character models, ranging from alternate skins based on Marvel comics and films to even crossovers with other franchises like Fortnite.

A Nexus Mods user created and uploaded a mod replacing Captain America's model with Donald Trump. This mod gained traction on social media, with some users even seeking out a corresponding Joe Biden mod for competitive matchups. However, both the Trump and Biden mods are now inaccessible on Nexus Mods, indicating they have been removed.

Reasons for Removal:

Nexus Mods' policy, established in 2020 amidst the US presidential election, prohibits mods incorporating US sociopolitical themes. This policy was implemented to maintain a neutral platform and avoid potentially contentious content. While the removal of the Trump mod aligns with this pre-existing policy, the decision has sparked mixed reactions online. Many players found the mod inappropriate given Captain America's established character, while others criticized Nexus Mods for censoring political expression. Despite this removal, Trump mods persist in other games like Skyrim, Fallout 4, and XCOM 2.

Developer Response:

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