Marvel Rivals Takes Steps to Address Smurfs, Yet There’s Still More to Be Done

One significant challenge facing online games, particularly free-to-play titles like Marvel Rivals, is the phenomenon known as smurfing. This practice occurs when high-ranked players create secondary accounts to easily dominate less experienced opponents. The term “smurfing”originated from two exceptional players in Warcraft 2, who played under the pseudonyms PapaSmurf and Smurfette. Despite its long history and widespread nature across competitive gaming, the issue of smurfing remains a persistent problem. Fortunately, Marvel Rivals is beginning to take measures to address this concern effectively.

While the motivations for smurfing can vary, they primarily include the desire to relive the climb up the ranks after being stuck on a high-level account, assisting lower-ranked friends, or simply experiencing the gratification of easy victories. Regardless of the reasons, smurfing drastically undermines the gaming experience for lower-ranked players by pitting them against opponents who are far more skilled than they should be matched with. In a recent update, NetEase has incorporated smurfing as a legitimate reporting reason, indicating a step in the right direction, although there is still considerable room for improvement to effectively combat this issue.

Marvel Rivals Empowers Players to Report Smurfs

Challenges of Relying Solely on Bans

Marvel Rivals Gameplay
Marvel Rivals Screenshot
Marvel Rivals Scene
Season 2 Trailer
Marvel Rivals Action

The ban system in Marvel Rivals has shown reliability, thanks in part to NetEase’s effective customer support. Incorporating smurfing into the list of reportable offenses is a significant and positive development, as noted by Reddit user IntoTheRain78. However, establishing whether a player is indeed a smurf can be complex. Players must investigate account histories, noting hours played; typically, smurfs exhibit lower play hours without prior competitive match experience.

Interestingly, players can ascend the ranks without winning the majority of their games, as they can climb with win rates below 50% when achieving MVP status in matches. This presents a challenge because it necessitates players to identify potential smurfs accurately before submitting a report. Consequently, this could easily provide a platform for players to report skilled opponents out of spite, rather than actual smurfing. Although false reports may not lead to immediate bans, they can prompt investigations, making it possible for smurfs to continue playing undeterred by any repercussions.

Implementing New Barriers to Deter Smurfing

Establishing Minimum Requirements for Ranked Play

Magik Eldritch Armor from Marvel Rivals

To effectively combat smurfing, the goal should be to make the process as inconvenient as possible without negatively impacting fair players. One potential solution is to bind Marvel Rivals accounts to unique email addresses or phone numbers, which would limit each to a single account. This two-factor authentication method would not only enhance account security but also significantly reduce the ease with which new accounts can be created. Although using a phone number is adept at preventing new registrations, attaching an email could still bolster security.

As Season 2 evolves, introducing characters such as Emma Frost and Ultron, scheduled for release on May 30, the game continues to develop. However, any potential measures against smurfing might affect player engagement. For instance, Raising the minimum level required to access ranked matches could deter smurfs from easily infiltrating lower tiers, as new players typically engage in Quick Match before attempting ranked games. Increasing the level requirement from 10 to 15 already took place for Season 2, but elevating it to 20 might better filter out smurfs who rush through levels by excelling against AI opponents.

Another approach could involve implementing placements matches that prevent players from easily bypassing the ranking system. While Marvel Rivals encourages competitive progression, introducing placement matches could disrupt the flow, potentially prompting smurfs to manipulate results intentionally to enter lower ranks, thereby impacting the overall game for others.

The Free-to-Play Model of Marvel Rivals Encourages Smurfing

The Costs Associated with a Free Model

Marvel Rivals Ultron Overview

While strategies such as reporting, placement matches, stricter account requirements, and enhanced verification processes can diminish the prevalence of smurfing, complete eradication is challenging. The free nature of Marvel Rivals eliminates financial constraints that might otherwise deter smurfing, leaving motivation purely rooted in personal ethics—something that many smurfs disregard. To reduce smurfing instances, creating obstacles that make the experience significantly more tedious is essential. Implementing a combination of bans and additional measures can bolster these actions.

While smurfing will always persist to some extent, the proactive stance being taken by Marvel Rivals against it sends a compelling message. The game aims to prioritize fun for all players, and while smurfs may derive joy from their exploits, they can detrimentally affect the gaming experience for others. By actively discouraging smurfing, NetEase demonstrates its commitment to catering to the broader player base rather than allowing a few to dictate the environment. Although eliminating smurfing entirely may be improbable, implementing these measures can certainly reduce its prevalence.

Source: IntoTheRain/Reddit

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