NetEase Fires Director and US Devs Despite Marvel Rivals' Success

Despite the soaring success of Marvel Rivals, NetEase Games has made the surprising decision to lay off its US-based developers. Dive into the details of this unexpected move and get the latest scoop on the thrilling updates planned for the second half of Marvel Rivals' Season 1.

NetEase's Strategic Business Shift Impacts North American Studios

Marvel Rivals' US-Based Developers Laid Off by NetEase

On February 19, 2025, Thaddeus Sasser, the director of Marvel Rivals, took to LinkedIn to announce that he, along with other developers based in California, had been let go by NetEase Games.

"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!"

In the face of this setback, Sasser remained proactive, using his platform to advocate for his former colleagues. "Oh well! Times are tough all over - Let's find these incredible people new jobs, because we all need to eat, right?"

He began by spotlighting Garry McGee, the game's technical designer. "During the course of the project, Garry was fantastic to work with. This is a highly technical designer - currently working in level design, but I've seen his passion project! - who is a proactive problem solver."

Sasser praised McGee's capabilities, recommending him strongly to potential employers. "If I had a role I'd hire him again instantly," he added, indicating his confidence in McGee's skills.

Sasser's initiative to find new opportunities for his team suggests he will continue to support each member individually, leveraging his network to help them secure future employment.

NetEase's Controversial Moves in North America Despite Success

Marvel Rivals was crafted by dual development teams, one in China and the other in Seattle, USA. While Sasser's team focused on game and level design, the Chinese team took care of the remaining development tasks. Despite their pivotal role, the success of Marvel Rivals did not shield Sasser and his team from the broader layoffs affecting the gaming industry.

NetEase has remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind these layoffs, but a Bungie employee suggested that the company might be scaling back its operations in North America. In November 2024, NetEase withdrew financial support from Worlds Untold, a studio led by a former Mass Effect writer. More recently, on January 7, 2025, NetEase ended its partnership with Jar of Sparks, leaving the developers to seek a new publishing partner.

Marvel Rivals' Second Half of Season 1 Update

New Heroes, Maps, and More Exciting Changes!

As announced on their YouTube channel on February 19, 2025, Marvel Rivals is set to launch the second half of Season 1 with an array of new heroes, maps, balance adjustments, and tournaments. This update, led by creative director Guangguang and lead combat designer Zhiyong, promises to keep the excitement alive.

The update introduces The Thing and Human Torch, completing the Fantastic Four lineup. Additionally, Central Park joins the roster as a new map, transforming New York's iconic park into a battleground ruled by Dracula and his castle.

Zhiyong outlined the balance adjustments planned for the game following the end of Season 1's first half on February 21, 2025, at 12:00 AM (PDT). A significant change includes the adjustment to the triple-strategist lineup. While acknowledging the current meta, Zhiyong plans to "bump up the energy cost" for characters like Cloak & Dagger and Loki, who have quick ultimate recharge capabilities.

Further adjustments will reduce the survivability of certain Vanguard characters, such as Doctor Strange and Magneto, while enhancing some movement-type Vanguards. Meanwhile, overpowered heroes like Storm and Moon Knight will see nerfs as Marvel Rivals moves into the second half of Season 1.

One anticipated change that won't be implemented is the rank reset, which would have dropped all players' ranks by four divisions. Following fan backlash, the Marvel Rivals team decided to scrap this feature. For more details on this decision, check out this article!