Marvel Rivals’ growth workforce, together with the sport director, have been laid off regardless of the sport’s profitable launch. The layoffs have affected an unspecified variety of workers at NetEase’s design workforce primarily based in Seattle, the corporate mentioned in a press release to the press Wednesday. The job cuts come simply over two months after the discharge of NetEase’s free-to-play hero shooter Marvel Rivals. The sport skyrocketed to reputation at launch, attracting over 10 million gamers in its first 72 hours.
Marvel Rivals Design Staff Laid Off
The layoffs had been first confirmed by Marvel Rivals recreation director Thadeus Sasser, who mentioned in a LinkedIn publish his workforce had been let go.
“That is such a bizarre trade…,” Sasser started his publish. “My stellar, proficient workforce simply helped ship an extremely profitable new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Video games… …and had been simply laid off!”
Whereas the variety of staffers affected by the cuts is unclear, stage designers Gary MacGee and Jack Burrows confirmed that they had been laid off in separate LinkedIn posts.
“My workforce just lately helped develop and launch Marvel Rivals, which turned out to be an even bigger hit than any of us anticipated! Sadly my workforce was additionally laid off. Unusual occasions all throughout the trade certainly,” McGee mentioned in his publish.
“Hey people! Welp, simply bought laid off from my job engaged on Marvel Rivals with NetEase. Was an unlimited pleasure to work with my American coworkers who be part of me on this unhappy culling. Simply could not dodge that massive boot I assume, irrespective of how massive the success of the gig,” Burrows mentioned.
In a press release despatched to VGC and different media shops, NetEase confirmed the job cuts and mentioned the choice was taken for “organisational causes”.
“We just lately made the troublesome choice to regulate Marvel Rivals’ growth workforce construction for organisational causes and to optimise growth effectivity for the sport,” the assertion mentioned. “This resulted in a discount of a design workforce primarily based in Seattle that’s half of a bigger world design operate in assist of Marvel Rivals. We respect the onerous work and dedication of these affected and will likely be treating them confidentially and respectfully with recognition for his or her particular person contributions.”
Marvel Rivals, an Overwatch-style hero shooter, launched on PC, PS5 and Xbox Sequence S/X on December 6, 2024, and rapidly grew to become a phenomenon. The gamereached 20 million gamers inside 11 days of launch. The hero shooter incorporates a star-studded roster of Marvel superheroes, together with Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain America, Black Widow, Hulk, Star-Lord, Venom, Wolverine and extra, that participate in team-based 6v6 space shootouts.
