There was a lot of excitement over the weekend regarding the new 6v6 shooter “Marvel Rivals” from NetEase. Overwatch professional and Twitch streamer Brandon “Seagull” Larned revealed details of a contract that anyone wishing to showcase the shooter right now must sign. The contract prohibited content creators from making any criticism of the game and any negative comparisons to competing games. This triggered an outcry. Developer NetEase immediately backtracked.
What is Marvel Rivals? Marvel Rivals is a 6v6 shooter that closely resembles Overwatch, only with heroes from Marvel comics. Currently, an alpha test is looming, causing some trouble.
Marvel Rivals prohibits content creators from negative reporting
This was the revelation: Seagull explained (via Twitter):
- Many content creators had requested a code for the playtest of Marvel Rivals.
- They were asked to sign a contract. Some even did so just to be able to play.
- But the contract prohibited streamers from making any critical or satirical comments about the game and forbade “malicious comparisons” to competing games.
This is what Seagull demanded: The Twitch streamer said in a Twitch clip that he hopes “people who are much more famous than he is” take up the issue now because it is “simply not okay.”
He emphasized: The restrictions do not apply to advertising deals, but that freedom of speech is being restricted here just to be allowed to showcase the game.
“This is illegal” – Outcry against Marvel Rivals is brewing
This was the reaction: Seagull’s wish came true.
Asmongold picked up on Seagull’s complaint and reached 520,000 viewers with a clip titled “Marvel Rivals: This is illegal …” (via Youtube).
Also on Reddit, the topic “Marvel Rivals prohibits critical reviews” was one of the largest threads over the weekend.
After Helldivers and Escape from Tarkov, the company responds quickly to the outcry
How did NetEase respond? The developers recognized the outcry early on, unlike other companies, and immediately backtracked.
NetEase stated in a statement that the contract terms were “inappropriate and misleading.” They sincerely apologize for the “miscommunication and the unpleasant experience.”
They are of course pleased with criticism and suggestions on how to improve the game, as Marvel Rivals is supposed to be as great as possible.
They will now draft a new contract, the old contract was only a draft anyway. Any creator who wants an alpha code can also reach out.
What lies behind this: The fact that this is all supposed to be a “misunderstanding” seems very strange. How else could it be intended than “If we let you play, then please behave and don’t compare us to Overwatch 2, you jerks.”
Maybe this is a cultural difference: NetEase is a Chinese company and they simply overestimated the situation. They might not have thought that streamers would take it to the public. Ultimately, such a contract invites exposure. Perhaps there truly was just a lack of due diligence and no one with foresight took a second look at the contract.
In any case, it is not a shining moment for NetEase.
NetEase is at least responding much faster here than Escape from Tarkov or Sony with Helldivers 2, who let the outcry grow really large before intervening: Helldivers 2: Community Manager advised angry players to write negative reviews
