NetEase Fires Director and US Devs Despite Marvel Rivals' Success

NetEase Games has made the surprising decision to lay off the US-based developers of Marvel Rivals, despite the game's notable success. Dive into the details of this unexpected move and get the latest on the upcoming updates for the second half of Marvel Rivals' Season 1.

NetEase Strategic Business Shift Affects Studios in North America

Marvel Rivals US-Based Devs Laid Off by NetEase

On February 19, 2025, Thaddeus Sasser, the director of Marvel Rivals, announced via LinkedIn that he, along with other developers based in California, were laid off by NetEase Games. Sasser expressed his bewilderment, stating, "This is such a weird industry. My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games...and were just laid off!"

Despite the setback, Sasser remains proactive, using LinkedIn to help his former team members find new opportunities. He highlighted the skills of Garry McGee, the game’s technical designer, saying, "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 abilities and expressed a strong desire to rehire him if given the chance.

Sasser’s dedication to aiding his team's career transition underscores his commitment to their well-being, even after the layoffs.

NetEase, Despite Its Success, Made Controversial Moves in North America

Marvel Rivals was developed collaboratively by teams in China and Seattle, USA. Sasser's team focused on game and level design, contributing significantly to the project. However, this did not shield them from the broader layoffs affecting the industry, even for successful titles like Marvel Rivals.

NetEase has remained silent on the reasons behind the layoffs. However, a Bungie employee suggested that NetEase is beginning to withdraw from North America. This move is consistent with NetEase's recent decisions, including the withdrawal of financial support from Worlds Untold studio in November 2024 and the termination of its partnership with Jar of Sparks on January 7, 2025.

Marvel Rivals Second Half of Season 1 Update

New Heroes, Maps, and More!

The second half of Marvel Rivals' Season 1 is set to launch with exciting additions, including new heroes and maps, along with balance adjustments and tournaments. This update, announced on February 19, 2025, via the game's YouTube channel, is led by creative director Guangguang and lead combat designer Zhiyong.

The update introduces The Thing and Human Torch, completing the Fantastic Four lineup, and a new map, Central Park, featuring Dracula's castle.

Zhiyong detailed the balance changes planned post the first half of Season 1, ending on February 21, 2025, at 12:00 AM (PDT). Notable adjustments include increased energy costs for quick ultimate recharge characters like Cloak & Dagger and Loki, reduced survivability for certain Vanguard characters such as Doctor Strange and Magneto, and enhancements for movement-type Vanguards. Additionally, overpowered heroes like Storm and Moon Knight are set for nerfs as the game progresses into the second half of Season 1.

One anticipated change that was not implemented is the rank reset, which would have dropped all players' ranks by four divisions. The decision to remove this feature was made in response to fan feedback, demonstrating the development team's responsiveness to the community's concerns. For more on this update, check out the latest article.