NetEase gives a statement after laying off Marvel Rivals team

Marvel Rivals has seen much success since it came out late last year, and it wouldn’t be farfetched to say much of that is because of the team working on the game. From the developers to those who ensure every decision made by the game attracts new players instead of making them run away, everyone’s important.

It’s because of this that the developer NetEase’s decision to lay off so many team members was met with confusion from players. The studio has given fans a statement after the lay-off, but it raises more questions than gives answers.

Here’s what NetEase ^[1] has to say about the recent Marvel Rivasl layoffs.

Sudden layoffs in Seattle

Marvel Rivals game director Thaddeus Sasser revealed that the entire US-based team working on the game had been laid off. This decision shocked the gaming community, especially given the game’s success, reportedly generating over $130 million in its first month.

NetEase’s Official Statement

NetEase has issued a statement explaining that the layoffs were due to organizational restructuring and efficiency optimization. “We recently made the difficult decision to adjust Marvel Rivals’ development team structure for organizational reasons and to optimize development efficiency for the game,” said Alex Armour, a PR representative from NetEase Games.

The statement confirms that the affected team was a Seattle-based design unit of six people. NetEase assures that affected employees will receive “confidential and respectful treatment with recognition for their individual contributions.”

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Commitment to Marvel Rivals’ future

NetEase reaffirms its commitment to Marvel Rivals despite the layoffs. “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,” the company states. 

They emphasize that they are “investing more, not less, into the evolution and growth of this game,” with plans to add new characters, maps, features, and content.

Reports on NetEase’s strategy shift

While NetEast claims efficiency as the reason for the layoffs, a report from VentureBeat suggests otherwise. According to sources, NetEase executives are losing confidence in overseas development teams, specifically in the US and Europe. The success of Black Myth: Wukong proved to NetEase that major games can be developed more affordably in China, so they don’t need to spend money on overseas teams.

However, NetEase denied any intent to retreat from overseas development. “Our studios in North America, the UK, Spain, and Japan all continue to refine and develop their ongoing game projects,” the company stated.

References

1. [1] "NetEase website". www.neteasegames.com. Retrieved February 20, 2025