Marvel Rivals Team Laid Off, NetEase Reassures Fans

NetEase, the developer behind the successful free-to-play hero shooter Marvel Rivals, has announced layoffs within its Seattle-based design team, citing "organizational reasons." The news came to light when game director Thaddeus Sasser shared on LinkedIn that he and his talented team, who had significantly contributed to the launch of Marvel Rivals, were let go.

Sasser expressed his astonishment at the industry's unpredictability, saying, “This is such a weird industry. My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games... and were just laid off! Oh well! Times are tough all over - Let's find these incredible people new jobs, because we all need to eat, right? :D”

The gaming community responded with a mixture of shock and frustration, especially given Marvel Rivals' remarkable performance. Since its launch in December, the game has garnered over 20 million downloads and achieved significant peak concurrent player numbers on Steam.

Thaddeus Sasser’s LinkedIn profile reveals that his team was instrumental in game and level design, providing guidance, strategy, and direction over the past few years.

In a statement to IGN, NetEase confirmed the layoffs but did not disclose the exact number of affected employees. The company stated, “We recently made the difficult decision to adjust Marvel Rivals’ development team structure for organizational reasons and to optimize development efficiency for the game. This resulted in a reduction of a design team based in Seattle that is part of a larger global design function in support of Marvel Rivals. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of those affected and will be treating them confidentially and respectfully with recognition for their individual contributions.”

Despite the layoffs, NetEase emphasized that the ongoing support for Marvel Rivals remains unaffected. The primary development team, based in China and led by Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen in Guangzhou, is fully dedicated to enhancing the game. NetEase reassured fans, saying, “We want to reassure our fanbase that the core development team for Marvel Rivals... remains fully committed to delivering an exceptional experience. We are investing more, not less, into the evolution and growth of this game. We’re excited to deliver new superhero characters, maps, features, and content to ensure an engaging live service experience for our worldwide player base.”

This latest round of layoffs is part of a broader trend at NetEase, which has scaled back several international ventures. The company has closed studios in the U.S. and Japan, including Ouka Studios, the developer behind Visions of Mana. Additionally, Worlds Untold, led by Mass Effect veteran Mac Walters, paused operations following a split with NetEase in November. In January, Jar of Sparks, founded by Halo and Destiny 2 veteran Jerry Hook in 2022, was also cut.