Some Marvel Rivals players are reportedly using a loophole involving game configuration files to intentionally cancel matches, thereby avoiding penalties for losses. This tactic appears to exploit the game's detection system for file tampering. Streamer LytePk highlighted the issue, stating they encountered the problem five times during a single streaming session.
The method involves players temporarily leaving a match and then injecting configuration files into the game's directory. Upon their return, this action triggers a match cancellation. NetEase, the game's developer, has policies against players modifying config files, which were initially altered by some players seeking to improve the game's performance and optimization.
Earlier modifications to config files aimed at visual downgrades to improve gameplay clarity, such as making enemy heroes more visible during chaotic team fights, had already drawn a warning from NetEase. The developer had stated that players found using modded configs for performance boosts could face penalties, including temporary suspension. However, the current issue seems to stem from a less nefarious, yet still exploitative, application of config file manipulation.
The consequence of these modifications, as observed, has sometimes been the auto-cancellation of games without any associated de-ranking punishment for the player who initiated the cancellation. This loophole allows players to avoid accumulating losses on their match history. The ease with which this workaround can be exploited suggests that NetEase may need to implement more significant penalties or a more robust technical solution to address the issue and ensure fair play.