Despite the success of Marvel Rivals, NetEase Games has laid off its US-based developers. Dive into the details of this surprising move and get the latest on 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, along with other developers based in California, had been laid off by NetEase Games.

"This is such a weird industry," Sasser remarked. "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 is actively advocating for his former team members, seeking new employment opportunities for them. "Oh well! Times are tough all over - Let's find these incredible people new jobs, because we all need to eat, right?" he shared optimistically.

He began by highlighting the skills of Garry McGee, the game's technical designer. "During the course of the project, Garry was fantastic to work with. This is a highly technical designer - currently working in level design, but I've seen his passion project! - who is a proactive problem solver."

Sasser praised McGee's capabilities and expressed his willingness to rehire him if given the chance. "If I had a role I'd hire him again instantly," he stated, emphasizing McGee's value in the industry.

Given Sasser's commitment to helping his team find new positions, it's clear he will continue to champion their skills and experiences to potential employers.

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

Marvel Rivals was a joint effort between development teams in China and Seattle, USA. Sasser's team focused on game and level design, while the Chinese team managed the rest of the development. However, their crucial contributions did not shield them from the broader layoffs affecting the gaming industry.

NetEase has remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind these layoffs. However, a Bungie employee hinted that NetEase might be scaling back its operations in North America. In November 2024, NetEase withdrew financial support from Worlds Untold studio, previously led by a former Mass Effect writer. More recently, on January 7, 2025, NetEase ended its partnership with Jar of Sparks, leaving the developers 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, including new heroes, maps, balance adjustments, and tournaments, as announced on the game's YouTube channel on February 19, 2025. This update is being led by Marvel Rivals' creative director, Guangguang, and lead combat designer, Zhiyong.

The update introduces The Thing and Human Torch, completing the Fantastic Four lineup. Additionally, a new map, Central Park, has been added, featuring Dracula's castle as a prominent landmark.

Zhiyong detailed the balance adjustments planned for the game following the conclusion of the first half of Season 1 on February 21, 2025, at 12:00 AM (PDT). Notable changes include increasing the energy cost for characters with rapid ultimate recharge, such as Cloak & Dagger and Loki, to shake up the competitive meta. Survivability adjustments are also being made to some Vanguard characters like Doctor Strange and Magneto, while boosting the capabilities of movement-type Vanguards. Meanwhile, overpowered heroes like Storm and Moon Knight are set to receive nerfs 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 read this article!