Marvel Rivals Studio Closure: 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 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. The free-to-play game boasts over 20 million downloads since its December launch and impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam. Sasser's LinkedIn profile highlights his team's contribution to the game's design over the past two years.

While NetEase confirmed the layoffs in a statement to IGN, the exact number of affected employees remains undisclosed. The company emphasized its commitment to respectful and confidential treatment of those impacted, acknowledging their contributions. NetEase reassured players that ongoing support for Marvel Rivals will not be affected, as the core development team remains based in Guangzhou, China, under the leadership of Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen. Further investment in new content, characters, and features is planned.

These layoffs represent the latest in a series of workforce reductions at NetEase, reflecting a broader shift in the company's overseas strategy. Previous actions include withdrawing from several international investments and closing studios in the U.S. and Japan, such as Ouka Studios (Visions of Mana). Other projects impacted include Worlds Untold and Jar of Sparks.