NetEase Confirms Layoffs at Seattle Studio for Marvel Rivals Due to Organizational Reasons

Marvel Rivals Faces Unexpected Layoffs Despite Success

In a surprising turn of events, Marvel Rivals has emerged as the leading free-to-play launch on both PC and consoles, attracting a remarkable player base of over 20 million. However, this overwhelming success has not shielded the Seattle development team from job cuts, as NetEase has initiated layoffs to “optimize development efficiency.”

Details of the Layoffs

The first indications of the layoffs came from social media disclosures by affected employees. Notably, Thaddeus Sasser, the game director for Marvel Rivals, shared on LinkedIn that his entire team is no longer with the company. His post poignantly expressed disappointment, stating:

“My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games…and were just laid off.”

NetEase Responds to Backlash

The layoffs prompted significant fan backlash, leading NetEase to release a statement clarifying their commitment to the game. The company emphasized that the primary development team, based in China, will continue to support Marvel Rivals. They also assured that the impacted employees would receive recognition for their individual contributions.

“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. 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’re investing more, not less, into the evolution and growth of this game. We’re excited to deliver new superhero characters, maps, features, and content to ensure an engaging live service experience for our worldwide player base.

Context of the Layoffs

While the extent of the layoffs remains unclear, it is evident that this decision coincides with the announcement of new game content. NetEase recently revealed that characters Human Torch and The Thing are set to join Marvel Rivals on February 21, which adds an intriguing layer to the timing of these cuts.

For ongoing updates and analysis, check out our source here.

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