The dilemma of smurfing has been a notable issue in Marvel Rivals. Recently, penalties have been enforced for players caught smurfing, a term referring to experienced gamers creating new accounts to dominate lower-ranked players.

For a considerable time, many players have exploited this system, leading to overwhelming challenges for novice gamers. After intense feedback and the realization of the negative impacts on overall gameplay, developers at NetEase have decided to implement stricter consequences.

A standout incident involved streamer ottr, who received a penalty notice stating, “The system has detected that you have recently been smurfing. We urge you to cease this behaviour immediately. If you continue down this path, we will impose further penalties.”

While the intention is to mitigate smurfing, the approach raises eyebrows. As part of the punishment, players may face bans alongside rank resets, making them restart from the lowest tiers.

Despite this initiative, skepticism remains regarding its effectiveness. Since creating new accounts is relatively simple in free-to-play models, the impact may not be as significant as hoped.

For further details on Marvel Rivals, including updates, visit the official website.