Marvel Rivals Director and Entire Seattle Design Team Laid Off, NetEase Tells Fans Not to Worry About the Game

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. Sasser and his team, responsible for game and level design, were let go despite the game's significant success.

Marvel Rivals, a free-to-play hero shooter, boasts over 20 million downloads since its December launch and impressive concurrent player counts on Steam. The gaming community expressed surprise and criticism at the layoffs given this success.

NetEase confirmed the layoffs in a statement to IGN, but declined to specify the number of employees affected. The company emphasized that the layoffs will not impact ongoing support for Marvel Rivals, assuring players that the core development team in Guangzhou, China, remains fully committed to the game's future. NetEase pledged continued investment in new content, including characters, maps, and features.

This is the latest in a series of restructuring moves by NetEase, which has reduced its overseas investments and closed several studios in the U.S. and Japan. Previous closures include Ouka Studios (Visions of Mana) and the halting of operations for Worlds Untold and Jar of Sparks.