Wednesday January 19 at 1am PT Since the publication of this article, NetEase Games has provided PCGamesN with a statement, which you can read further down.
I'm ashamed to say that I've become pretty numb to the world of videogame layoffs now – it doesn't mean that I don't care and feel deep sympathy for every dev that loses their job, it just fails to surprise me anymore. However, when I saw that NetEase has laid off developers working on Marvel Rivals – the scorching hot hero shooter that is one of the most popular live service titles around right now despite being less than three months old – my jaw hit the floor. While NetEase is yet to confirm this news, LinkedIn posts from two developers – including Marvel Rivals' game director – suggest that those at its Seattle studio are being let go.
walked back controversial decisions within hours of announcing them to keep players on side. A resounding success, then.
However, posts on LinkedIn have begun to emerge from developers based at NetEase's Seattle studio, claiming that layoffs have hit their team. Remarkably, this seems to include Thaddeus Sasser, Marvel Rivals' game director – while clarification is needed (PCGamesN has ed NetEase for comment) Sasser implies that the entire studio may have been let go.
"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!" he writes. This suggests that Sasser is included in the layoffs, but he has declined to comment to other media outlets about whether he has lost his position too.
In the same LinkedIn post, he endorses level designer Garry McGee who also appears to have been impacted by the layoffs. In a separate post, fellow level designer Jack Burrows confirms he has been let go by NetEase.
This seems like a pretty incomprehensible move, given Marvel Rivals' initial success. Maybe Marvel Rivals isn't generating as much money from battle es and cosmetics as experts have predicted? In reality, it's likely just a savage cost cutting exercise – salaries and costs in North America are incredibly high compared to other regions, and NetEase clearly thinks it can continue to Marvel Rivals with fewer resources. Either that, or it will spin up similar roles to those lost in Seattle in more affordable locations.
Since we published this article, NetEase Games has got back to us with a statement, which you can read below:
"We recently made the difficult decision to adjust Marvel Rivals' development team structure for organizational reasons and to optimize development efficiency for the game. This resulted in a reduction of a design team based in Seattle that is part of a larger global design function in of Marvel Rivals. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of those affected and will be treating them confidentially and respectfully with recognition for their individual contributions.
"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. We are investing more, not less, into the evolution and growth of this game. We're excited to deliver new super hero characters, maps, features, and content to ensure an engaging live service experience for our worldwide player base."
These layoffs come just a few days before the second half of Marvel Rivals Season 1 kicks off on Friday, February 21. A big update will add two new characters, The Thing and Human Torch.
Recently, another Seattle-based studio that was backed by NetEase, Jar of Sparks, also confirmed that it was "halting" development on its debut game due to financial constraints. The studio was formed by former Halo veteran Jerry Hook.