NetEase Fires Director and US Devs Despite Marvel Rivals' Success

NetEase Games has made the surprising decision to lay off the US-based developers of Marvel Rivals, despite the game's success. This article delves into the details of these layoffs and provides an overview of 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 and other California-based developers were laid off by NetEase Games. Sasser expressed his frustration, stating, "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!"

Despite the setback, Sasser remained proactive, using LinkedIn to help his former team members find new employment. He highlighted the skills of Garry McGee, the game's technical designer, praising his technical prowess and proactive problem-solving abilities. Sasser's endorsement included a strong recommendation, saying, "If I had a role I'd hire him again instantly."

Sasser's efforts to support his team suggest he will continue to advocate for them individually, helping them secure new opportunities in the industry.

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 crucial contributions, the US team was not spared from the industry-wide layoffs.

NetEase has not provided a clear reason for these layoffs, but a Bungie employee suggested that the company might be scaling back its operations in North America. This theory is supported by NetEase's recent actions, such as withdrawing financial support from Worlds Untold studio in November 2024 and ending its partnership with Jar of Sparks on January 7, 2025, leaving the latter to seek a new publishing partner.

Marvel Rivals Second Half of Season 1 Update

New Heroes, Maps, and More!

The second half of Marvel Rivals' Season 1 is set to launch with exciting new content, as announced on the game's YouTube channel on February 19, 2025. Led by creative director Guangguang and lead combat designer Zhiyong, the update introduces new heroes, maps, balance adjustments, and tournaments.

The update features the official reveal of The Thing and Human Torch, completing the Fantastic Four lineup. A new map, Central Park, will also be introduced, transforming New York's iconic park into a battleground featuring Dracula's castle.

Zhiyong announced significant balance adjustments following the conclusion of the first half of Season 1 on February 21, 2025, at 12:00 AM (PDT). These changes include increasing the energy cost for characters with quick ultimate recharge, such as Cloak & Dagger and Loki, to shake up the competitive meta. Additionally, some Vanguard characters like Doctor Strange and Magneto will see reduced survivability, while movement-type Vanguards will receive boosts. Overpowered heroes like Storm and Moon Knight are set to be nerfed as the game progresses 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. This decision was met with disappointment from fans, leading the developers to reconsider and ultimately remove this feature. For more details on this development, you can refer to this article.