Nexus Mods Bans Donald Trump Marvel Rivals Mod Due to Sociopolitical Concerns
A recently uploaded Donald Trump mod for the popular game Marvel Rivals has been removed from Nexus Mods, reportedly due to violations of the modding platform's sociopolitical rules. The mod, which replaced Captain America's model with that of Donald Trump, generated significant online discussion, with some even seeking out a purported Joe Biden counterpart. However, both mods are now inaccessible on Nexus Mods, resulting in error messages.
Marvel Rivals, a hero shooter from NetEase Games, has quickly gained millions of players since its release. Players are actively creating and sharing mods, ranging from cosmetic changes based on Marvel comics and films to more unusual substitutions, such as replacing characters with Fortnite models.
The removal of the Trump mod is consistent with Nexus Mods' 2020 policy banning mods related to US sociopolitical issues. This policy, implemented during the contentious 2020 presidential election, aims to maintain a neutral platform. While many Marvel Rivals players understand the ban, citing the incongruity of Trump's likeness with Captain America, others express dissatisfaction with the platform's restrictions on political content. It's worth noting that despite similar removals in the past, Trump-related mods persist on platforms hosting mods for games like Skyrim, Fallout 4, and XCOM 2.
NetEase Games, the developer of Marvel Rivals, has yet to comment on the use of character mods, including those depicting controversial figures. The company is currently focusing on addressing other issues such as in-game bugs and resolving wrongful account bans.
