NetEase Reassures Marvel Rivals Fans Amid Layoffs

NetEase, developer of 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 game director Thaddeus Sasser on LinkedIn, who confirmed his own dismissal along with his team's.

This news comes as a surprise, given Marvel Rivals' significant success. Since its December launch, the free-to-play hero shooter boasts over 20 million downloads and impressive concurrent player counts on Steam. Sasser's team, according to his LinkedIn profile, played a crucial role in the game's design and development over the past two years.

NetEase's official statement confirmed the layoffs but remained vague about the number of affected employees. The company emphasized its commitment to continued support for Marvel Rivals, highlighting that the primary development team in Guangzhou, China, remains intact and actively working on new content, including characters, maps, and features. The statement assures players that investment in the game's future is undiminished.

These layoffs represent the latest in a series of restructuring moves by NetEase, including the scaling back of overseas investments and the closure of several studios in the U.S. and Japan. Previous examples include the shuttering of Ouka Studios (Visions of Mana) and the pausing of operations for Worlds Untold (led by Mass Effect's Mac Walters) following a split with NetEase. The January closure of Jar of Sparks, founded by industry veteran Jerry Hook, further underscores NetEase's strategic shift. While NetEase maintains its commitment to Marvel Rivals, the recent layoffs highlight the ongoing challenges and volatility within the video game industry.