The Strategy Marvel Rivals Is Using to Catch Leakers Is Straight Out of Kevin Feige’s MCU Playbook

Marvel Rivals has taken the world by storm and it’s no surprise that leakers are preying upon upcoming updates from NetEase Games. However, the Marvel Rivals team has taken a page out of Kevin Fegie’s playbook to keep its secrets safe.

Like Kevin Feige, Marvel Rivals is planting false information within its game files to mislead leakers. However, while Kevin Fegie did this to keep leakers out of the loop, the game is using this tactic to catch them.

The gaming community has always been fascinated with leaks, which is why there’s an entire industry built around it. While there is an element of fun when dissecting details from teasers and trailers, unnecessary leaks ruin the element of surprise.

This could also affect developers as carefully planned reveals and marketing campaigns could be ruined completely. Marvel Rivals’ approach to tackling this issue could help NetEase Games as well as the gaming industry as a whole.

In an interview with GamesRadar, Joe and Anthony Russo revealed that they gave the cast fake scripts and scenes so as to not leak spoilers. In proper MCU fashion, the team at Marvel Rivals has also been embedding misleading information into its development process. In the Marvel Rivals Leak discord channel, a notable leaker Keone said:

So a bunch of the Rivals leaks are fake lol pic.twitter.com/hzlVvkkx1C

— Worm (@Saulman11835779) January 23, 2025

The leaks are primarily set up by the developers to catch not just leakers on the outside but also those who are part of Marvel Rivals and pushing leaks internally.

This effective method could put leakers out of commission as fans will start questioning their credibility. With fake files within the game’s code, it is impossible to determine which parts of it are fake or real. No matter what they do, it looks like leakers are going to have a hard time from here on out.

Avengers: Infinity War is literal proof of tactics like these benefitting audiences and producers alike. Other studios can take note of Marvel Rivals and perhaps more games in the future will also see fewer spoilers before launch. This tactic is an incredibly effective one and there is an ample amount of proof that this could work to some extent.

Marvel Rivals’ use of fake leaks isn’t just a clever way to combat spoilers, it sets a standard for developers. By embedding false information, studios can discourage leaks by creating uncertainty about the authenticity of shared data. This not only protects the integrity of a game’s development process but also preserves the excitement and surprise for players when content is officially revealed.

If widely adopted, this strategy could reshape how leaks are handled across the gaming industry. Developers can use similar methods to track leaks back to their sources, making it harder for individuals to breach trust without consequence. Fans may also start questioning the credibility of unverified information as they will be aware of fake leaks. 

This strategy from NetEase Games ensures that Marvel Rivals can prevent disruptions to its marketing plans. The tactic not only secures the company’s creative efforts but also strengthens trust with the Marvel Rivals community. Tactics such as this could completely end the scourge of spoilers that fans face.