NetEase Forbids Reviewers to Criticize Marvel Rivals, Backs Down After Backlash
The highly criticized "non-disparagement" clause in Marvel Rivals' content creator agreement will be revised, the developer says.
Image Credit: NetEase
Over the past couple of days, NetEase and its upcoming team-based PvP shooter Marvel Rivals have found themselves entangled in a controversy, all thanks to a peculiar clause in the developer's content creator program agreement.
In case you missed out on all the drama, the clause in question essentially prohibited content creators and reviewers from criticizing the game, requiring them not to do anything that could be deemed "detrimental to the reputation of the game", including making satirical comments about Marvel Rivals' content, comparing the game to its competitors, and even providing "subjective negative reviews of the game".
Needless to say, when the information became public, NetEase faced precisely what they likely aimed to evade the most – a barrage of criticism – with players, reviewers, and content creators alike condemning the developer for its dishonest attempt to control the discourse surrounding the game.
In a somewhat unexpected turn of events, considering the current state of the gaming industry, NetEase actually backed down, apologizing for all the confusion and frustration caused by the controversial clause. In its official statement, the developer stressed that it is currently working with creators who have expressed concerns about Marvel Rivals' agreement, promising to revise it and make it less restrictive.
"We sincerely apologize for the confusion, suspicion, and frustration caused by these excessively restrictive terms and thank you for sharing with us," reads the statement. "We cherish and appreciate every suggestion given by our players and always respect your feedback. We are currently working with Creators who have expressed these concerns and are revising the current version to be less restrictive and more Creator-friendly. Thank you for bearing with us while we make these adjustments."
While many have already begun popping champagne in celebration, it's important to note that the revised contract is still in progress, and the extent to which NetEase has eased the restrictions remains uncertain. Moreover, the existence of this clause in and of itself could be viewed by some as a major red flag concerning the game's condition. After all, if a game is truly good, why would it explicitly forbid any negative feedback?
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