Marvel Rivals Dev Team Laid Off, NetEase Reassures Fans

NetEase, the developer behind the successful mobile game Marvel Rivals, has announced layoffs affecting its Seattle-based design team. The cuts, attributed to "organizational reasons" and efficiency optimization, were announced by former game director Thaddeus Sasser on LinkedIn. Sasser expressed surprise and disappointment, highlighting the team's significant contributions to the game's launch and subsequent success.

Marvel Rivals, a free-to-play hero shooter, has achieved over 20 million downloads since its December launch and boasts impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam. Despite this success, NetEase confirmed the layoffs, though the exact number of affected employees remains undisclosed. The company emphasized its commitment to ongoing support for the game, assuring players that the core development team in Guangzhou, China, remains fully dedicated to delivering new content and features.

This latest round of layoffs follows a pattern of reduced overseas investment and studio closures at NetEase. Previous closures include Ouka Studios (Visions of Mana) and the halting of operations for Worlds Untold and Jar of Sparks. The industry reacted with shock and criticism, given Marvel Rivals' undeniable popularity. While NetEase assures players of continued support and investment, the layoffs underscore the volatile nature of the video game development industry, particularly concerning overseas ventures.