The free-to-play Marvel Rivals has already been in the spotlight of activists several times. It's not just about character design (the online shooter is known for its curvy female characters and revealing skins), some users accuse NetEase Games studio of racism.
Now, the reason for dissatisfaction is the lack of an effective moderation system. Many people's attention was drawn to an incident involving a Black streamer named Silky. He encountered a racial slur while playing Marvel Rivals and tried to report the player. When Silky reviewed the list of reasons for complaints, he found that the option for “hate speech” was no longer there, only general options like “toxic content” or “inappropriate expression.
Western content creators began to speak out on social media, criticizing the developers and calling for a boycott of Marvel Rivals, as well as advising them to hire external consultants to work on the game.
Earlier this year, Marvel Rivals developers were criticized for racism over a skin for Storm. A summer look was introduced for this Black heroine, but it was of “epic” rarity, while for other characters, such as Scarlet Witch or Magik, the skins were “Legendary.” The developers then reacted to the criticism and adjusted the skin's rarity.