NetEase has laid off the entire Seattle-based development team behind Marvel Rivals, including game director Thaddeus Sasser and lead designer Jack Burrows. The news comes as a shock given the game’s impressive performance since its December 2024 launch.

Marvel Rivals, which features 6v6 combat and unique team-up abilities between Marvel characters, has attracted over 10 million players worldwide and maintains a robust daily player count of 454,925. The hero shooter’s innovative gameplay mechanics and character design have earned it significant acclaim in the months following its release.

Marvel Rivals director and team laid off according to posts https://t.co/pphzvfDBYF pic.twitter.com/KRHDgjq2pq

— Wario64 (@Wario64) February 18, 2025

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According to a compiled tweet on X, Game director Thaddeus Sasser addressed the situation in a LinkedIn post, remarking “This is such a weird industry” while acknowledging the team’s achievements. Lead designer Jack Burrows also commented on the “sad culling” of the team, despite what he described as the game’s “success.”

The layoffs have sparked concern within the Marvel Rivals community, particularly regarding the game’s future development. The timing is especially puzzling given the game’s continued growth and recent content releases, including popular additions like The Thing and The Human Torch. Some players speculate the decision may be financially motivated, suggesting the development team was deemed less essential after the initial launch phase.

These staffing changes coincide with other controversial decisions by NetEase, such as the recent announcement of mid-season rank resets. While Marvel Rivals continues to maintain its popularity in the hero shooter genre, the loss of key development talent has raised questions about the game’s long-term direction and support. NetEase has not yet provided an official statement on the reasons behind the layoffs or their plans for the game’s continued development.