NetEase Fires Director and US Devs Despite Marvel Rivals' Success

NetEase Games has made the surprising decision to lay off Marvel Rivals’ US-based developers, despite the game's impressive success. This article delves into the details of this move and also highlights 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 his LinkedIn profile that he, along with 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 took a proactive approach, using LinkedIn to advocate for his former team members and help them secure new employment opportunities. He highlighted the skills and contributions of his team, starting with Garry McGee, the game’s technical designer. Sasser praised McGee's technical prowess and problem-solving abilities, emphasizing that he would hire him again instantly if given the chance.

NetEase, Despite Its Success, Made Controversial Moves in North America

Marvel Rivals was a collaborative effort between development teams in China and Seattle, USA. Sasser’s team was responsible for game and level design, while the Chinese team managed other aspects of development. Despite their significant contributions, Sasser and his team were not spared from the industry's ongoing layoffs.

NetEase has remained silent on the reasons behind the 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 decisions to withdraw financial support from Worlds Untold studio in November 2024 and to end its partnership with Jar of Sparks on January 7, 2025, leaving the developers to find new publishing partners.

Marvel Rivals Second Half of Season 1 Update

New Heroes, Maps, and More!

On February 19, 2025, Marvel Rivals announced exciting updates for the second half of Season 1 on its YouTube channel. Led by creative director Guangguang and lead combat designer Zhiyong, the update introduces new heroes, maps, and balance adjustments.

The update features the addition of The Thing and Human Torch, completing the Fantastic Four lineup. A new map, Central Park, has also been introduced, transforming New York's iconic park into a battleground with Dracula's castle as a striking backdrop.

Zhiyong announced several balance adjustments effective from February 21, 2025, at 12:00 AM (PDT). Notable changes include increasing the energy cost for characters with quick ultimate recharge, such as Cloak & Dagger and Loki, to shake up the meta. Some Vanguard characters like Doctor Strange and Magneto will see reduced survivability, while certain movement-type Vanguards will receive a boost. 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. Due to fan backlash, the developers decided to scrap this feature. For more details on this decision, check out this article!