'We are investing more, not less, into the evolution and growth of this game.'
Update [02/19/2025]: NetEase Games has confirmed a number of Marvel Rivals developers based in Seattle were laid off to "optimise development efficiency."
In a statement sent to Game Developer, the Chinese conglomerate said the cuts were made for "organisational reasons" and that it will continue to invest in the free-to-play multiplayer shooter.
"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," reads the full statement.
"We appreciate the hard work and dedication of those affected and will be treating them confidentially and respectfully with recognition for their individual contributions. 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.
"We are investing more, not less, into the evolution and growth of this game. We’re excited to deliver new super hero characters, maps, features, and content to ensure an engaging live service experience for our worldwide player base."
Original story: NetEase Games has seemingly laid off the Marvel Rivals development team based in Seattle.
On LinkedIn, Marvel Rivals game director Thaddeus Sasser explained his team was laid off after delivering "an incredibly successful new franchise for NetEase."
"This is such a weird industry," he added. A level designer also claimed he was impacted by the cuts. It's currently unclear why NetEase has cut positions, and whether teams at other locations were affected.
Marvel Rivals released in December 2024 and quickly became a Steam bestseller. It may have also been a big money maker for NetEase: in January, reports claimed the game made around 1 billion won (or $136 million) in revenue, most of which was said to have come from PC players.
Prior to release, the studio said Rivals' post-launch heroes would be free for all players. The game's first season has already added Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, with fellow Fantastic Four members Human Torch and the Thing slated to arrive this Friday, February 21.
Game Developer has reached out to NetEase about the layoffs, and will update when a response is given.
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