NetEase Responds to Support Player Crisis in Marvel Rivals

LOS ANGELES, CA — NetEase Games is addressing growing concerns over support players in its popular game, Marvel Rivals. In a statement released on Friday, the company acknowledged that the support role is facing significant challenges due to the dominance of highly mobile heroes.

Since the start of Season 2, support players have reported increased difficulties as agile characters like Iron Fist and Spider-Man continue to overwhelm them in battles. NetEase emphasized that support players need to keep a close watch on teammates’ health while carefully deploying their abilities. This added pressure makes gameplay frustrating for those in the Strategist role.

To ease these issues, NetEase plans to enhance the damage output for certain support characters in its upcoming mid-season patch, expected to launch in early May. The developers also announced adjustments to balance beloved heroes such as Groot and Captain America, making them easier to defeat, while reducing the effectiveness of Spider-Man’s most challenging abilities.

NetEase’s commitment to addressing these issues comes amidst what fans have dubbed the “Support Strike,” where many players are openly criticizing the support role and the gameplay mechanics that currently hinder their effectiveness. A prominent streamer recently criticized support players, which only fueled discontent within the community.

Comments made by the streamer, who referred to support players as “idiots” and suggested they are ruining the game, have resulted in significant backlash. This negative attention has promoted numerous support players to share their grievances with the community, detailing their experiences and the challenges they face.

“We’re not asking for glorification; we just want basic respect,” one support player expressed, noting the mental toll of being undermined despite their contributions in matches. As the mid-season patch approaches, many in the community are hopeful these adjustments will restore balance and improve the overall experience for all players in Marvel Rivals.

NetEase remains attentive to player feedback, promising to make ongoing adjustments as necessary to promote a fairer and more enjoyable game environment. They encourage patience while they work on refining combat dynamics and supporting both Strategists and Duelists effectively.