NetEase, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, posted a warning on X on March 5, 2026 after it detected an increase in what it called “incentivized throwing.” The studio said players who deliberately sabotage matches to collect third-party rewards may face strict enforcement measures, including permanent bans, and that it has set up a specialized investigation process to find gameplay tied to external bounty systems. The developer’s X post includes the initial notification to the community. And boys, I really do think that we’re definitely entering a new era of MM throwing!
Dear Rivals,
We have recently identified a disturbing trend within our community: "incentivized throwing," where players are enticed by third-party bounties to deliberately sabotage matches. This behavior not only undermines the integrity of our game but also tarnishes the…
— Marvel Rivals (@MarvelRivals) March 5, 2026
The warning followed player reports about a new site called Intlist that offers cash bounties linked to specific players. Intlist lets users post rewards tied to named accounts, a design the platform says is meant to punish repeat griefers by enabling community retaliation. The site’s founders include a former pro known as EchoRivals, and Intlist’s messaging claims developers are not doing enough to punish disruptive players. Intlist’s account outlines that approach, and the platform later issued a response to the developer warning. That statement says the platform welcomes stronger action from studios while defending its own goals.
Marvel Rivals is a game we genuinely love and we are happy to see the team’s commitment to solving a problem the community has cared deeply about.
We’ve made the decision to transition Intlist to a completely free documentation platform; no bounties, no payments. Just…
— Intlist.org (@IntlistOrg) March 5, 2026
Players and observers raised concerns that the bounty model can incentivize the very behavior it claims to prevent. Instead of discouraging griefing, the system may encourage participants to deliberately lose or disrupt matches to claim cash rewards. In practice, matches with an active bounty target can draw interference from teammates or opponents who either want the reward or want to stop a rival from collecting it. Some players also appear to exploit those match disruptions to farm progression items and currency, such as the Lord icon or in-game funds, rather than focusing on normal objectives.
NetEase described its stance as zero tolerance for malicious disruption and said it has increased enforcement against negative gameplay, including malicious idling and intentional throwing. The developer warned that accounts found violating rules will face “significant penalties following reporting and verification” and emphasized that players should not risk their accounts for short-term incentives. The studio is asking the community to report suspicious activity so moderation teams can investigate specific cases.
The controversy comes as Marvel Rivals moves through Season 6.5. Season 6.5 began on February 13, 2026 and added new heroes and events, which has kept ranked play and rewards in focus for many players. NetEase’s message is direct. Sabotaging matches in Marvel Rivals to chase external bounties could result in permanent account loss.
Join us in the comments to share whether you think bounty sites like Intlist are ever justified and how developers should respond. Follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram to join the conversation.
Marvel Rivals
Developed by NetEase Games
Marvel Rivals is a super hero team-based PvP shooter developed by NetEase Games! Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!
- Genre: Shooter
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
- Modes: Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Release: 2024-12-06
- Publisher: NetEase Games, Marvel Games
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Age Rating:
USK 12 / ACB M / PEGI 12 / ESRB T / GRAC ALL / CLASS_IND 12
- IGDB Rating: 75.9/100
