Marvel Rivals dev responds to reports "disparaging" closed alpha feedback from streamers is banned

Even if some curious Overwatch players have called it a little goofy, Marvel Rivals has a lot of potential. The team-based PvP shooter looks to rival the likes of Overwatch and Paladins with its (very literal) hero action, but it hasn't immediately won over the most dedicated fans of the genre's established giants.

It seems to some that the heroes on offer have been cramped into boxes that mimic the characters of Overwatch, reducing characters like Iron Man from uber-nimble quip-dishers to Pharah clones. While it's a tough sell, the recent closed alpha hoped to quell concerns that the game would be a mere ripoff. It didn't go very well.

Marvel Rivals receives backlash for closed alpha contract

Marvel Rivals had to open up for some kind of testing, and it did so very recently. Though some have had much to say about its gameplay, others have pointed to the contract that gamers had to sign in order to play the alpa. Notably, it seems NetEase is trying to stifle criticism.

Twitter user Brandon Larned shared an apparent section from the Marvel Rival contract, stating that you can't make "disparaging of satirical comments about any game-related material, such as game features, characters or music,"

More than this, you can't engage in "malicious comparisons with competitors or belittling the gameplay [...] or providing subjective negative reviews for the game." Doing any of the above would reportedly get you banned. It's a harsh notice for a contract to make, but the game itself has plenty to say, too.

Marvel Rivals responds to claims of "asking for dishonest reviews"

The Marvel Rivals team has taken to Twitter to address the controversial contract clause, and they've apologised for any confusion caused. Devs claim that they're happy to hear any feedback, regardless of its skew.

"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," says a statement. "We actively encourage Creators to share their honest thoughts, suggestions, and criticisms as they play."

It continues, "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."

The Marvel Rivals team ends by saying, "We cherish and appreciate every suggestion given by our players and always respect your feedback."

It’s a good job that the team apologised, because it's definitely not a good look to ask anyone playing (content creator or not) to avoid criticising the game. Expect plenty of negative feedback to make up for the confusion to come.