Marvel Rivals Team Laid Off, NetEase Assures Game's Future

NetEase, the developer behind the hit game Marvel Rivals, has announced layoffs within its Seattle-based design team, citing "organizational reasons" for the decision. Game Director Thaddeus Sasser shared the news on LinkedIn, expressing his surprise and disappointment at the layoffs despite the team's significant contributions to the successful launch of Marvel Rivals.

Sasser's heartfelt post highlighted the paradox of the gaming industry, where a team that successfully launched a new franchise like Marvel Rivals could still face job cuts. "This is such a weird industry," he wrote, emphasizing the need to help his talented team find new opportunities. The gaming community responded with a mix of shock and anger, especially given the game's remarkable performance, boasting over 20 million downloads since its December launch and impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam.

NetEase confirmed the layoffs to IGN, acknowledging the difficult decision to restructure the development team to optimize efficiency. However, the company did not disclose the number of affected employees. In their statement, NetEase emphasized their commitment to treating those impacted with respect and confidentiality, recognizing their contributions to Marvel Rivals.

Despite the layoffs, NetEase assured fans that the layoffs would not affect the ongoing development and support of Marvel Rivals. The game's primary development team, led by Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen in Guangzhou, China, remains dedicated to enhancing the game. NetEase plans to invest more into Marvel Rivals, promising new superhero characters, maps, features, and content to keep the live service experience engaging for players worldwide.

This move is part of a broader trend of NetEase scaling back its overseas investments. Recent months have seen the company close studios in the U.S. and Japan, including Ouka Studios, developer of Visions of Mana. Additionally, Worlds Untold paused operations after parting ways with NetEase in November, and Jar of Sparks, founded by Halo and Destiny 2 veteran Jerry Hook, was cut in January. These actions reflect NetEase's strategic adjustments in its global operations.