Marvel Rivals Dev Apologizes for Contract That Blocked Creators From Criticizing the Game

The developer of Marvel Rivals has apologized for having a clause in its content creator contract that blocked streamers from criticizing the game.

Marvel Rivals, a Marvel-themed take on team-based hero shooter Overwatch, was recently made available to some content creators as part of a closed alpha test. Amid positive feedback, it emerged that the contract that creators had to sign to gain access to the game included a number of clauses that prevented any disparaging comments.

As streamer and retired professional Overwatch player Brandon Larned, aka Seagull, revealed on X / Twitter, the non-disparagement clause in the contract prevented creators from posting negative reviews, or even comparing it to competitors, such as Blizzard’s Overwatch.

Extremely disappointed in @MarvelRivals.

Multiple creators asked for key codes to gain access to the playtest and are asked to sign a contract.

The contract signs away your right to negatively review the game.

Many streamers have signed without reading just to play

Insanity. pic.twitter.com/c11BUDyka9

— Brandon Larned (@A_Seagull) May 12, 2024

Reaction to this clause was overwhelmingly negative, with developer NetEase coming under fire for its attempt to block even constructive criticism of the game. Now, NetEase has issued an apology for what it called “any unpleasant experiences or doubts caused by the miscommunication of these terms”, and announced plans to revise the contract.

“The Content Creator Program is a small-scale project that aims to aid in the production of incredible content by supporting Creators through giving them more resources,” NetEase said in its statement. “We actively encourage Creators to share their honest thoughts, suggestions, and criticisms as they play. All feedback, positive and negative, ultimately helps us craft the best experience for ourselves and the players.

“We sincerely apologize for the confusion, suspicion, and frustration caused by these excessively restrictive terms and thank you for sharing with us. We cherish and appreciate every suggestion given by our players and always respect your feedback. We are currently working with Creators who have expressed these concerns and are revising the current version to be less restrictive and more Creator-friendly. Thank you for bearing with us while we make these adjustments.

“We hope you are enjoying the game so far and we are always open to hearing your sincere thoughts and ideas on how we can improve the game.”

Marvel Rivals is a 6v6 team-based free-to-play shooter headed to PC that stars iconic heroes and villains from the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more. This multiversal adventure features an initial roster comprised of Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Groot, Hulk, Iron Man, Loki, Luna Snow, Magik, Magneto, Mantis, Namor, Peni Parker, Rocket Raccoon, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man, Storm, Star-Lord, and The Punisher. A release date is yet to be announced.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].