NetEase, the developer behind the successful mobile game Marvel Rivals, has announced layoffs affecting its Seattle-based design team. The cuts, attributed to "organizational reasons" and efficiency optimization, were announced by game director Thaddeus Sasser on LinkedIn. Sasser and his team, responsible for game and level design, were let go despite the game's significant success.
Marvel Rivals, a free-to-play hero shooter, boasts over 20 million downloads since its December launch and impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam. The gaming community expressed surprise and criticism at the layoffs given the game's popularity.
NetEase's statement confirmed the downsizing but didn't disclose the number of affected employees. The company emphasized that the layoffs won't affect ongoing support for Marvel Rivals, as the core development team remains in Guangzhou, China, under Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen. NetEase reiterated its commitment to expanding the game with new content and features.
This latest round of layoffs follows NetEase's withdrawal from several overseas ventures and the closure of studios in the U.S. and Japan, including Ouka Studios (Visions of Mana) and the recent pause of Worlds Untold (headed by Mass Effect's Mac Walters). The company also terminated Jar of Sparks earlier this year. The situation highlights NetEase's strategic shift away from some international projects.
