Summary
- Winnie The Pooh is a banned phrase in Marvel Rivals due to its association with the Chinese government.
- Marvel Rivals has strict moderation, banning words like Isis, Hitler, and Free Taiwan to maintain community guidelines.
- Season 1 of Marvel Rivals, set to launch around January 10, will include new events, modes, skins, and a battle pass.
Players have discovered Winnie The Pooh holds a spot on the growing list of banned words and phrases within Marvel Rivals, prompting both curiosity and confusion. Community guidelines and moderation are a cornerstone of any online game, especially one as large as Marvel Rivals, but many fans may be perplexed as to what could be offensive about Winnie The Pooh, the classic stuffed animal come-to-life. When looking deeper, the bear's connection to the Chinese government may likely be the reason he's one of Marvel Rivals' unmentionables.
Despite being released at the tail end of 2024, Marvel Rivals quickly took the world by storm, and the hero shooter is poised to do the same in 2025. Not only does the new year bring a new season, but several iconic faces are set to join Marvel Rivals' roster as the months continue. Rumors and speculation started weeks ago as to who may join the game, though certain leaks indicate a very "fantastic" set of characters will soon arrive. Players got a taste of what they can expect in terms of limited-time seasonal updates with Jeff's Winter Splash Festival in December, though the talk of the town right now is what players can say, or rather what they can't say within Marvel Rivals.
How Do You Feel About Hero Bans in Marvel Rivals?
I've yet to get right into the competitive side of Marvel Rivals, but given the balancing issues, it would make sense to be able to ban those that really take the skill out of competition. Otherwise, you're going to wind up with a bunch of Jeffs and Iron Fists dominating. With that said, part of the challenge is devising strategies to overcome some of the more OP'd characters, so I can see an argument for both sides.
Players have discovered that Winnie The Pooh is a banned phrase in Marvel Rivals. Those who type the loveable bear's name in the in-game text chat box will be greeted with a message reading, "Text contains inappropriate content." This is probably confusing for those who may be out of the loop when it comes to Winnie The Pooh and the character's connection with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which is likely the reason the phrase is banned in the first place. Winnie The Pooh has become associated with Jinping and China in general over the last decade, with the character often being used online, primarily on Twitter, to criticize Xi. Games like Kingdom Hearts 3 avoided Winnie The Pooh entirely so as not to cause controversy with the Chinese government, and considering that Marvel Rivals developer NetEase is a Chinese company, the decision to do the same is not all that surprising.
Marvel Rivals Bans "Winnie The Pooh" From Game Chat
Online moderation is crucial for any multiplayer game, with Marvel Rivals being no different. Other banned words or phrases in Marvel Rivals include "Isis," "Hitler," and "Free Taiwan," with more likely to be discovered as players continue enjoying the game post-launch. Since its release, Marvel Rivals has maintained a steady player count, reaching over 20 million total players within its first few weeks.
As stated earlier, Marvel Rivals is on the cusp of entering its Season 1 update, which may include new events, modes, and maps. While there's a lot to speculate on, the new season will most certainly include a new battle pass, which will feature stickers, emotes, skins, and other customization options. Players can acquire skins by progressing through the season or choose to spend real money on Marvel Rivals' in-game currency, Lattice, and purchase items outright. While there isn't an official launch date yet, Season 1 of Marvel Rivals is expected to drop around January 10.
Marvel Rivals
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 78 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
- Released
- December 6, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
- NetEase Games
- Publisher(s)
- NetEase Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!
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!
A Deep and Varied Marvel Roster
Choose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.
Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game Dynamics
With intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there's never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.
Dynamic Hero Synergy
Coordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot's back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man's armor for massive damage, and so much more!
Creative Environment Destruction
Tear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!
Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch Updates
The Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Limited - console crossplay, no PC crossplay
- Cross Save
- No
- Franchise
- Marvel
- Number of Players
- 1-6
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- December 6, 2024
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- December 6, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- December 6, 2024
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action, Multiplayer
- How Long To Beat
- 7.5 hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 20 GB
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
