Marvel Rivals devs are seemingly hiding Fake Characters in game files to catch out leakers

Prior to launch, Marvel Rivals game director Thaddeus Sasser explained that fans listening to leakers datamining the superhero game may be disappointed. Now that dataminers are slicing through files to find any hint towards upcoming characters, it seems that the team behind the title are purposefully planting fake heroes to catch players out.

In recent weeks, leakers have claimed that everyone from Ultron to obscure X-Men character Paste Pot Pete will be added to the game. However, it seems that the team behind Marvel Rivals are taking dataminers for a ride.

Marvel Rivals leaks planted by devs

Prominent Marvel Rivals dataminer Keone explained in the Marvel Rivals Leak Discord that NetEase is seemingly adding fake characters to the game to purposefully add doubt to dataminers. While there could also be references characters that are simply scrapped during development, the leakers are confident that NetEase is stringing them along.

“It has come to out [sic] attention that the devs have set up fake characters to catch leakers,” Keone told followers. “Not only the ones in the code – but potentially inside sources too.”

Another leaker explained later on that the team behind the game’s datamining efforts are “only being cautious and not confirming or denying anyone’s existence”. However, the claims have torn a rift in the leaking community with some believing NetEase is purposefully adding fake characters and others believing they’re all legitimate additions.

“These characters are in the code for anyone to see,” the leakers continued. “As always, though, take leaks with a grain of salt.”

Some of the code for “plant” characters(Source:Unknown but images from User: Handlegoeshere1 on X)
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Twitter account “Marvel Rivals Leaks” claimed that the reports of fake leaks is “untrue” with the leaker allegedly gaining “evidence for their addition” to the game, although they won’t be added “for a while”. Some characters in the leaks—such as the addition of Ghost Rider—also already have voice lines recorded which add credence to their eventual inclusion, but others simply have lines of code associated with them.

With Marvel Rivals adding a new character every month-and-a-half, there’s few leaked characters that sound unrealistic in their addition. Outside of some obscure X-Men characters like the aforementioned Paste Pot Pete and Sprite, most characters are prominent superheroes and villains.

For example, Ultron will undoubtedly arrive at some point, as well as Thanos and Professor X. However, not every “leaked” character should be trusted—not just because they could be made up, but because they might have been scrapped mid-development anyway.