NetEase Games has made the surprising decision to lay off the US-based developers of Marvel Rivals, despite the game's success. Dive into the details of this unexpected move and get the scoop 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 on LinkedIn that he, along with other California-based developers, had been laid off by NetEase Games.
"This is such a weird industry," Sasser expressed. "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 is actively promoting his former team members to potential employers on LinkedIn. "Oh well! Times are tough all over - Let's find these incredible people new jobs, because we all need to eat, right?"
He began by highlighting Garry McGee, the game's technical designer. "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 skills and recommended him strongly, adding, "If I had a role I'd hire him again instantly."
Sasser's proactive approach to finding new opportunities for his team suggests he will continue to pitch for his former colleagues individually, hoping to secure them new employment through his endorsements.
NetEase, Despite Its Success, Made Controversial Moves in North America
Marvel Rivals was developed by two teams, one based in China and the other in Seattle, USA. Sasser’s team focused on game and level design, while the Chinese team handled the rest of the development. However, even their crucial contributions did not protect them from the industry's wave of layoffs, even for a highly successful title like Marvel Rivals.
NetEase has not provided details on the sudden layoffs, but a Bungie employee mentioned that the company might be scaling back its operations in North America. In November 2024, NetEase withdrew financial support from Worlds Untold studio, led by a former Mass Effect writer. More recently, on January 7, 2025, NetEase ended its partnership with Jar of Sparks, leaving the developers to seek a new publishing partner.
Marvel Rivals Second Half of Season 1 Update
New Heroes, Maps, and More!
The second half of Season 1 for Marvel Rivals is set to bring exciting new content, as announced on the game's YouTube channel on February 19, 2025. The update, led by creative director Guangguang and lead combat designer Zhiyong, will introduce new heroes, maps, balance adjustments, and tournaments.
The update includes the official reveal of The Thing and Human Torch, completing the Fantastic Four lineup. Additionally, a new map, Central Park, will be added, transforming New York's iconic park into the haunting domain of Dracula and his castle.
Zhiyong detailed the upcoming balance adjustments, effective after the conclusion of the first half of Season 1 on February 21, 2025, at 12:00 AM (PDT). Key changes include increasing the energy cost for characters like Cloak & Dagger and Loki, who have quick ultimate recharge capabilities, shaking up the competitive meta. Some Vanguard characters, such as Doctor Strange and Magnet, will see reduced survivability, while certain movement-type Vanguards will receive boosts. Meanwhile, overpowered heroes like Storm and Moon Knight will be nerfed as the game transitions into the second half of Season 1.
One planned change that did not make it into the update was the rank reset, which would have dropped all players' ranks by four divisions. The decision to scrap this feature was met with relief from fans, leading the Marvel Rivals developers to remove it entirely. For more details on this decision, check out this article!
