The Loki "Robe Of Relaxation" Skin Controversy: Why Marvel Rivals Became The Ultimate "Gooner Game"

The "Loki Gooner Rivals skin" is not its official name, but a community label for the highly controversial "Robe of Relaxation" Epic Costume released for Loki Laufeyon in the popular hero shooter, Marvel Rivals. This skin, which debuted in Season 3’s Summer Special event, quickly became the focal point of a massive debate across the gaming world due to its overtly sexualized design, leading many players and critics to brand the entire game as a "gooner game." This article, updated on the current date of December 17, 2025, dives deep into the skin's details, the developer's defense, and the lasting impact of the controversy on NetEase Games' flagship title.

The "Robe of Relaxation" skin, featuring the God of Mischief in a revealing swimsuit often described as a "banana hammock," ignited a firestorm upon its release. It joined a lineup of other suggestive summer skins, including those for Psylocke and Luna Snow, cementing Marvel Rivals' reputation for pushing the boundaries of character design in the competitive hero shooter genre. The discussion surrounding these cosmetics has continued to dominate forums and social media, even as new content and skins are announced for early 2025.

Loki Laufeyon: The God of Mischief's Controversial Profile

Loki, the character at the center of this controversy, is a popular playable hero in Marvel Rivals, classified as a Vanguard/Tactician. The "Robe of Relaxation" is just one of several high-profile costumes for the character, though it is arguably the most infamous. Here is a brief profile of the character's in-game and cosmetic history in Marvel Rivals.

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• Full Name: Loki Laufeyon (The God of Mischief)
• Game Title: Marvel Rivals (NetEase Games)
• Character Class: Vanguard/Tactician
• Controversial Skin: "Robe of Relaxation" (Epic Costume)
• Release Event: Season 3, Summer Special (as part of the Summer Party Combo Bundle)
• Other Notable Skins: Shin Sagi-Shi, Presidential Attire (scheduled for March 2025), IGNITE Loki (Twitch Drop)
• Inspiration: The developer claimed the swimsuit skins were inspired by classic Marvel Comics material, specifically the Marvel Swimsuit Special series.

The "Robe of Relaxation" is an Epic-tier costume that strips away Loki's traditional Asgardian armor in favor of a short, open robe and revealing swimwear. The specific attention to detail in the character model—what the community termed a "gooner detail"—is what propelled the skin from a simple summer cosmetic to a viral, controversial talking point.

The "Gooner Game" Label and NetEase's Defense

The release of the "Robe of Relaxation" skin for Loki, alongside similarly suggestive outfits for characters like Psylocke, Luna Snow, and Emma Frost, led to the widespread adoption of the term "gooner game" to describe Marvel Rivals. This label, often used pejoratively, suggests the game is intentionally designed to appeal to players seeking sexually suggestive character models.

Developer Response and Comic Inspiration

In a rare move, the game's Creative Director, Guangyun Chen, widely known by his pseudonym Guangguang, publicly addressed the controversy. Guangguang defended the design philosophy by stating that the skins are directly inspired by the source material—the Marvel Comics.

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He specifically pointed to the classic, often sexually suggestive, art found in the Marvel Swimsuit Special comic series. This limited series from the 1990s featured various Marvel heroes and villains in beachwear, providing a canonical basis for the in-game cosmetics.

However, many critics and players argued that translating the two-dimensional comic art into a fully rendered, competitive 3D game environment resulted in an aesthetic that felt less like an homage and more like an intentional marketing ploy focused on sex appeal. The debate over whether the skins "hurt the industry" or were simply a faithful adaptation of comic history became a major topic of discussion among gaming outlets and the community.

The Expanding Universe of "Suggestive" Marvel Rivals Skins

The "Robe of Relaxation" skin was merely the beginning of a trend that NetEase Games appears committed to continuing. The development team has consistently released new, attention-grabbing skins, keeping the "gooner game" conversation alive and arguably contributing to the game's high visibility.

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Upcoming and Past Controversial Cosmetics

The controversy surrounding Loki’s swimsuit skin is part of a larger pattern that includes several other highly debated cosmetics. These skins, often referred to as "gooner skins" by the community, include:

• Psylocke Swimsuit Skin: A major focus of the Season 3 Summer Special, released alongside Loki's costume.
• Luna Snow Summer Skin: Another revealing outfit that was part of the same controversial summer lineup.
• Emma Frost's Savage Skin: An outfit that drew specific attention for its character model details, contributing significantly to the "gooner" label.
• Rogue's Savage Skin: Similar to Emma Frost's, this skin was singled out for its enhanced sex appeal.

Furthermore, the official release schedule for 2025 suggests NetEase is not backing down. New skins for Loki, such as the "Presidential Attire," are slated for a March 2025 release, while other character skins, like the "Shin Sagi-Shi" costume, continue to be popular, though less controversial, additions. The ongoing commitment to these provocative designs ensures that Marvel Rivals remains a lightning rod for debate in the competitive gaming sphere.

The Impact on NetEase Games

The intense focus on the game's cosmetic choices has, ironically, provided Marvel Rivals with a significant amount of free publicity. While the developer, NetEase Games, has faced internal challenges, including some reported layoffs despite the game's high profile, the skin controversy has kept the title in the news cycle.

For many players, the "Robe of Relaxation" is simply a fun, non-traditional take on a classic character, in line with the more playful side of Marvel Comics history. For others, it represents a disappointing trend of sexualization in modern gaming. Regardless of which side of the debate players fall on, the Loki "Robe of Relaxation" skin will forever be remembered as the cosmetic that defined the early narrative and community perception of Marvel Rivals. The ongoing releases of new, similarly styled cosmetics suggest that this narrative is far from over.