NetEase, the developer behind the hit game Marvel Rivals, has recently confirmed layoffs within its Seattle-based design team, citing "organizational reasons." The announcement came as a shock to many, especially given the game's stellar performance since its launch.
Thaddeus Sasser, the game director for Marvel Rivals, shared the news on LinkedIn, revealing that he and his team were unexpectedly let go. "This is such a weird industry," Sasser remarked. "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 video game development community expressed a mix of shock and frustration over the layoffs, especially considering Marvel Rivals' remarkable success. The free-to-play hero shooter has amassed over 20 million downloads since its December launch and has seen significant peak concurrent player numbers on Steam.
Sasser's LinkedIn profile indicates that his team was instrumental in game and level design for Marvel Rivals, providing "guidance, strategy, and design direction over the last couple of 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," NetEase 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 the layoffs, NetEase emphasized that the ongoing support for Marvel Rivals will not be affected, as the primary development team remains based in China. "We want to reassure our fanbase that the core development team for Marvel Rivals, which continues to be led by Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen in Guangzhou, China, remains fully committed to delivering an exceptional experience," the company stated.
NetEase also highlighted its continued investment in the game, promising to deliver new superhero characters, maps, features, and content to ensure an engaging live service experience for players worldwide.
This latest round of layoffs at NetEase is part of a broader trend of the company scaling back its overseas investments. Recent closures include studios in the U.S. and Japan, such as 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 in 2022, was also cut.
