Marvel Rivals' Character Popularity and Mod Controversy: A Data Dive
Official website data reveals interesting trends in Marvel Rivals character popularity. In "quick play," Jeff reigns supreme, outpacing Venom and Cloak & Dagger. However, the competitive landscape shifts dramatically. On PC, Luna Snow, Cloak & Dagger, and Mantis lead the pack, while on consoles, Cloak & Dagger, Penny Parker, and Mantis dominate.
A surprising twist emerges: Mantis, despite her popularity, is also the most frequently defeated hero in competitive mode, leading the losses on both PC and consoles, surpassing Hela, Loki, and Magic. Consoles show a broader success, with 14 additional characters boasting win rates exceeding 50%.
Conversely, unpopular characters also stand out. Storm, Black Widow, and Wolverine lag in "quick play," while Nemore occupies that position in competitive matches.
The game's popularity is undeniable, evidenced by over 500 mod submissions in a single month. However, this success is overshadowed by a recent controversy. Nexus Mods removed modifications replacing Captain America's head with images of Donald Trump and Joe Biden, sparking significant player backlash.
Nexus Mods owner, TheDarkOne, addressed the situation in a private Reddit discussion, explaining that both Trump and Biden-related mods were removed simultaneously to avoid accusations of bias. This action, however, has curiously been met with silence from YouTube gaming personalities.