Marvel Rivals Director and Entire Seattle Design Team Laid Off, NetEase Tells Fans Not to Worry About the Game

NetEase, the developer behind the successful mobile game Marvel Rivals, has confirmed layoffs within its Seattle-based design team. Game director Thaddeus Sasser announced on LinkedIn that he and his team were let go, despite the game's recent success. Marvel Rivals, a free-to-play hero shooter, has surpassed 20 million downloads since its December launch and boasts impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam.

Sasser's LinkedIn profile indicates his team's contributions to game and level design for Marvel Rivals over the past two years. NetEase's statement confirmed the restructuring, citing "organizational reasons" and a need to optimize development efficiency. While the exact number of affected employees remains undisclosed, NetEase emphasized respectful and confidential treatment for those laid off.

The company assures players that ongoing support for Marvel Rivals will not be affected. The core development team, based in Guangzhou, China, under Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen, remains fully committed to delivering new content, including characters, maps, and features.

This is the latest in a series of layoffs at NetEase, reflecting a broader retraction from overseas investments and studio closures in the U.S. and Japan. Previous examples include the closure of Visions of Mana developer Ouka Studios, the pause of operations for Mac Walters' Worlds Untold, and the cancellation of Jerry Hook's Jar of Sparks.