NetEase Games has made the surprising decision to lay off the US-based developers of Marvel Rivals, despite the game's success. Dive deeper into this story and discover what's in store 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 remarked. "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 took the initiative to support his former colleagues by promoting them to potential employers on LinkedIn. He stated, "Oh well! Times are tough all over - Let's find these incredible people new jobs, because we all need to eat, right?"
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 capabilities and strongly recommended him to other developers, noting, "If I had a role I'd hire him again instantly."
Sasser’s efforts to help his team find new opportunities demonstrate his dedication to supporting his colleagues through challenging times.
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, while the Chinese team managed other aspects of development. Despite their critical role in the game's success, Sasser and his team were not spared from the layoffs sweeping through the industry.
NetEase has remained silent on the reasons behind the layoffs. However, a Bungie employee suggested that the company might be scaling back its operations in North America. This follows NetEase's decision in November 2024 to withdraw financial support from Worlds Untold studio, led by a former Mass Effect writer, and its termination of a partnership with Jar of Sparks on January 7, 2025, leaving the developers to seek new publishing partners.
Marvel Rivals Second Half of Season 1 Update
New Heroes, Maps, and More!
The second half of Marvel Rivals’ Season 1 is set to introduce exciting new content, including new heroes, maps, balance adjustments, and tournaments. Announced on February 19, 2025, via the game's YouTube channel, this update is the result of efforts led by Marvel Rivals’ creative director, Guangguang, and lead combat designer, Zhiyong.
The update will feature the official introduction of The Thing and Human Torch, completing the Fantastic Four roster. A new map, Central Park, has also been revealed, transforming New York's iconic park into the home of Dracula and his imposing castle.
Zhiyong announced several balance changes effective after the first half of Season 1 ends on February 21, 2025, at 12:00 AM (PDT). These changes include increasing the energy cost for characters with rapid ultimate recharge, such as Cloak & Dagger and Loki, to shake up the competitive scene. Additionally, survivability for some Vanguard characters like Doctor Strange and Magneto will be reduced, while boosting certain movement-type Vanguards. Overpowered heroes like Storm and Moon Knight will see nerfs as the game progresses into the second half of Season 1.
One planned change that won't be implemented is the rank reset, which would have dropped all players' ranks by four divisions. Due to fan backlash, the Marvel Rivals team decided to abandon this feature. For more details on this decision, check out this article!
