Summary
A Donald Trump character mod for the game Marvel Rivals has been removed from Nexus Mods, reportedly due to its sociopolitical nature, violating the platform's established rules. The game's developer, NetEase Games, has yet to comment on the matter or the broader issue of character mods.
Marvel Rivals, a hero shooter boasting millions of players, allows for modification of character models. Players have created and shared various mods, ranging from alternate skins inspired by Marvel comics and films to unexpected crossovers, such as Fortnite-styled characters.
A mod replacing Captain America's model with Donald Trump gained traction on social media, with some players even seeking out a purported Joe Biden counterpart. However, both mods are now inaccessible on Nexus Mods, indicating removal due to policy violations.
Reasons for Removal:
Nexus Mods' 2020 policy prohibits mods related to US sociopolitical issues. This decision, made during the highly contested 2020 presidential election, aimed to prevent potentially divisive content.
The removal of the Trump mod has sparked mixed reactions. Many Marvel Rivals players found the mod inappropriate given Captain America's established persona, while others criticized Nexus Mods' stance on political content. Despite this, similar Trump mods persist in other games like Skyrim, Fallout 4, and XCOM 2.
NetEase Games, the developer of Marvel Rivals, remains silent on the use of character mods, focusing instead on bug fixes and addressing player account issues in the game's early stages.