Marvel Mod Censored, Allegedly Due to Trump Criticism

Summary:

• A Nexus Mods user-created Donald Trump skin mod for the character Captain America in Marvel Rivals has been removed, reportedly due to Nexus Mods' policy against mods involving sociopolitical issues.
• The removal follows a 2020 Nexus Mods policy update prohibiting such content. A similar Joe Biden mod also appears unavailable.
• NetEase Games, the developer of Marvel Rivals, has yet to comment on the use of character mods, including those with political figures.

A recently released Marvel Rivals mod featuring Donald Trump as Captain America has been met with controversy and removal. Marvel Rivals, a hero shooter boasting millions of players, allows for character model modifications, ranging from alternate skins to cross-game character replacements. The Trump mod, which circulated on social media, sparked discussion and even searches for a corresponding Joe Biden mod. However, both mods are now inaccessible on Nexus Mods, the platform where they were initially hosted.

Reasons for Removal:

The removal aligns with a 2020 Nexus Mods policy statement banning mods related to US sociopolitical issues. This policy, enacted during the contentious 2020 presidential election, aimed to prevent potentially divisive content. While many Marvel Rivals players found the ban unsurprising, given the perceived incongruity of Trump's likeness with Captain America, some expressed dissatisfaction with Nexus Mods' stance on political imagery in mods. It's noteworthy that despite this policy, Trump mods persist in other games like Skyrim, Fallout 4, and XCOM 2.

Developer Response:

NetEase Games, the developer of Marvel Rivals, has remained silent on the matter of character mods and the removal of the Trump mod. The company is currently focused on addressing other game-related issues, such as bug fixes and resolving wrongful account bans.