Why Was Marvel Rivals US Team Laid Off? Here’s What Both Sides Have To Say

Marvel Rivals US development team based in Seattle has been laid off. Here are the team and NetEase statements about it.

Marvel Rivals has had an incredibly successful launch, quickly gaining traction among fans of hero-based shooters. The game has been widely praised for its engaging gameplay, impressive visuals, and strong roster of iconic Marvel characters. However, despite this overwhelming success, recent news has left the gaming community shocked as the US-based development team working on Marvel Rivals, located in Seattle, has been laid off.

The sudden news of these layoffs has left many wondering what exactly happened and what both the affected team members and the game’s publisher, NetEase, have to say about it.

NetEase layoff Marvel Rivals US Team

If there was one thing no one expected about Marvel Rivals, it was layoffs. Given the game’s success and popularity, no one could have predicted that NetEase would let go of an entire development team. But here we are, with multiple posts from former team members confirming just that.

The game’s director, Thaddeus Sasser, broke the news on his LinkedIn page, stating that he and his entire US team had been let go. Another team member, Jack Burrows, also took to social media to confirm the event. The situation has left many feeling shocked, saddened, and even confused about why such a move was necessary. He did say, “This is such a weird industry” , somehow implying that the reason was either not given in full transparency or the reason didn’t make sense.

In response to the team’s public statements, NetEase issued a press release confirming that the layoffs had indeed taken place. According to the company, the decision was made “for organizational reasons and to optimize development efficiency.” They further reassured fans that the core development team is still working on Marvel Rivals, and that players should not be worried about the game’s future.

In a report by PCGamer, NetEase did not disclose the exact number of employees affected but confirmed that there are no longer any Seattle-based developers working on Marvel Rivals.

NetEase rep tells me the cut of the Marvel Rivals team in Seattle was a “difficult decision” made “to optimize development efficiency for the game”

Full statement below

Very unusual move given Rivals’ massive success. But clear focus here is on “core” development in China pic.twitter.com/UiWFIhuIks

— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) February 19, 2025

Layoffs in the gaming industry have become increasingly frequent over the past few years. From major studios to independent developers, job cuts have been affecting the industry at an alarming rate. While some argue that these moves are necessary for companies to stay agile in a competitive market, others believe they highlight a larger issue within the industry’s business model.

Whether these shifts are for the better or worse remains a topic of heated debate.

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