If you’re trying to play Marvel Rivals on GeForce NOW and seeing the error “Sorry, this application cannot run under a virtual machine,” you’re not alone. This issue is leaving many players scratching their heads—but the cause isn’t a technical glitch. Instead, it’s linked to your GeForce NOW provider or membership type. Here’s what’s really happening and how you can address it.
Why Are You Seeing This Error?
The “virtual machine” error can appear when Marvel Rivals is blocked due to restrictions from your GeForce NOW provider. This often happens if:
1. Your Provider Doesn’t Support the Game Yet: Some regional GeForce NOW partners haven’t enabled access to Marvel Rivals on their servers.
2. You’re on the Free Tier: The Free tier may not provide access to certain high-demand games like Marvel Rivals.
3. You Don’t Have the Right Membership: Performance and Ultimate plans typically offer better access to games, while the Free and Priority tiers may have restrictions depending on your region.
Who Is Most Affected?
Players in regions that rely on local GeForce NOW providers (like Digevo, Abya, and Starhub) are more likely to run into this issue. These partners may have limitations or staggered rollouts for new games. Additionally, if you’re on a Free tier or an unsupported membership, the game may be blocked entirely, triggering the virtual machine detection error.
What Can You Do to Fix It?
Check Your Membership Level: Make sure you’re using a Performance or Ultimate membership. Upgrading can often resolve access issues.
- Verify Regional Availability: Some regional partners may take longer to make Marvel Rivals available. Check if your provider has any announcements regarding supported games.
- Switch to NVIDIA’s Direct Service: If your region allows it, switching to NVIDIA’s main GeForce NOW service (rather than a regional partner) could bypass the issue.
Final Thoughts
The “virtual machine” error isn’t about your hardware—it’s a sign that your GeForce NOW provider or plan isn’t granting access to Marvel Rivals. It’s frustrating, but options like upgrading your membership or waiting for provider updates can help. Have you run into this issue? Let us know if upgrading your plan or switching regions helped you get back into the action!