It looks like Marvel Rivals is in hot water again after changing the rules for competitive matches starting with Season 3.5. Players are crying foul, saying NetEase is now significantly limiting competitive stacks for players and teams, and that this decision could impact the game's long-term health.
Ever since the patch notes for Season 3.5 of Marvel Rivals were released, many players have voiced their concerns about what's to come, especially with how overpowered Blade looks, and how Luna Snow has received yet another buff.
Now, a new problem has emerged: NetEase is no longer allowing Platinum, Diamond, and Grandmaster players to queue as full stacks. Instead, they're limiting these queues to just 3 players.
It gets worse. Players in the Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All ranks are now restricted to just two-player stacks, down from the full six. Meanwhile, lower ranks (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) can still queue in any team size, except for five-player teams.
Whatever NetEase’s reasoning might be, it’s baffled many in the community. Players are questioning how a team-based game like Marvel Rivals could justify limiting the number of players in a team. It’s a confusing design choice that seems to contradict the very foundation of the hero-shooter genre.
After the patch notes dropped, content creators and other professional Marvel Rivals streamers shared their frustration. “It’s a team game, let people play as a team.” @b0gur added that removing six-stacking from Platinum and above ranks isn’t the move NetEase thinks it is.
The game’s subreddit also exploded with criticism, calling it a “horrible decision” that could potentially kill Marvel Rivals. Players warned that this change will only embolden smurfs, while flooding Quick Play lobbies with competitive sweats, ruining the experience for newcomers still learning the game.
It’s possible NetEase made the change to prevent one-sided matches when high-level teams snowball against less coordinated opponents. But matchmaking should already be accounting for this, pairing stacks against similar stacks. By limiting team sizes instead of improving matchmaking, many feel the company is making a short-sighted move. It doesn't help that players are already suspicious of the game’s matchmaking, which some claim feels rigged.
So far, NetEase hasn’t addressed the backlash. With Season 3.5 just days away, the community is growing increasingly frustrated that their go-to team game doesn’t feel much like a “team.”
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