NetEase, the developer behind the hit game Marvel Rivals, has recently 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 team had been let go. In his post, Sasser expressed a mix of bewilderment and resilience, emphasizing the team's significant contribution to the successful launch of Marvel Rivals. "This is such a weird industry," he stated. "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 considering Marvel Rivals' impressive performance. Since its launch in December, the free-to-play hero shooter has garnered over 20 million downloads and achieved significant peak concurrent player counts on Steam. Sasser's LinkedIn profile highlights that his team was instrumental in game and level design, providing crucial guidance and strategy over the past few years.
In a statement to IGN, NetEase confirmed the layoffs but did not disclose the number of affected employees. "We recently made the difficult decision to adjust Marvel Rivals’ development team structure for organizational reasons and to optimize development efficiency for the game," the company explained. "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 these cuts, NetEase reassured fans that the layoffs would not hinder the ongoing development and support for Marvel Rivals. The primary development team, led by Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen in Guangzhou, China, remains committed to enhancing the game. "We want to reassure our fanbase that the core development team for Marvel Rivals... remains fully committed to delivering an exceptional experience," NetEase stated. "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 move is part of a broader trend of restructuring at NetEase, which has been scaling back its international investments. The company has previously closed studios in the U.S. and Japan, including Ouka Studios, the developer behind Visions of Mana. In November, Worlds Untold, led by Mass Effect alum Mac Walters, announced a pause in operations following a split with NetEase. Additionally, in January, Jar of Sparks, founded by Halo and Destiny 2 veteran Jerry Hook, was also cut by NetEase, marking another instance of the company's retrenchment from global operations.
