UPDATE : February 19 , 2025NetEase reply to our enquiry with the undermentioned statement :
We recently made the unmanageable decision to align Marvel Rivals ’ development squad social organisation for organisational cause and to optimize development efficiency for the game . This lead in a reduction of a conception team based in Seattle that is part of a larger global design function in support of Marvel Rivals . We appreciate the hard body of work and dedication of those affected and will be treating them confidentially and respectfully with acknowledgment for their individual part .
We want to assure our fanbase that the nub ontogeny squad for Marvel Rivals , which continues to be guide by Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen in Guangzhou , China , remain amply attached to delivering an especial experience . We are place more , not less , into the phylogenesis and growth of this plot . We ’re delirious to deliver new super submarine sandwich characters , map , features , and content to assure an engaging live service experience for our general role player theme .
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The game managing director forMarvel Rivalshas just report that he and his entire team have been laid off from NetEase secret plan , despite the secret plan ’s undeniable success . To put thing in perspective , Marvel Rivalsis presently in the top five most - played game across PlayStation , Xbox , and Steam , and it ’s the bit - one most played biz on Steam . In an industry wherelive service gamesstruggle to get any traction , much less maintain their ontogenesis , the news of the layoff is surprising .
To clarify , NetEase laid off the Seattle - base squad . No understanding was given as to why they were put off , nor do we know if other teams were affected . Some buff speculate the reason could be politically motivated , while others place the blame on corporate hubris .
What this news show means for the future of the game — which the developer late hinted could come to the Nintendo Switch 2 — is n’t absolved . Game film director Thaddeus Sasser partake his thinking on LinkedIn , opening the post with “ This is such a weird industriousness . ” Jack Burrows , one of the story designers , state “ Just could n’t dodge that handsome boot I estimate , no matter how big the success of the spear . ”
Marvel Rivals is presently among the top 5 games in US hebdomadal alive user across PS5 , XBS and Steam , concord to Circana's Player Engagement Tracker . It has been a massive hit , and one of the few game that has been capable to let on through the live service wall . I dunno , folk . I just don't know .
& mdash;Mat Piscatella ( @matpiscatella.bsky.social)2025 - 02 - 18T19:26:12.575Z
The Marvel - inspire hero hitman is estimated to have earned over $ 130 million in its first calendar month alone . Its popularity shows no signs of slowing down , with two new characters and a fresh map carry within the next two week . Ostensibly , those targets will still be met , but there are a caboodle of unknown at the moment . If that pace continues , the game could generate more than $ 1 billion in revenue in its first year .
Digital Trends has reached out to NetEase for comment and will update this story when we get a response .
