"Marvel Rivals Development Faces Layoffs Despite Success of Shooter Game."
The Marvel Rivals team, based in Seattle, has been laid off, according to social media posts from the game's director and other team members.
The director of Marvel Rivals has reported that he and his team in Seattle have been laid off from NetEase, despite the undeniable success of the game. Currently, Marvel Rivals is among the five most played titles on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam, and it ranks first on Steam. This layoff is surprising, given that in the video game industry, online service games struggle to maintain their player base.
The reason behind the layoffs has not been clarified, nor has it been specified whether other teams within the company are affected. Some fans speculate that it could be related to political motives, while others suggest that the decision may stem from corporate arrogance. The current situation raises uncertainties about the future of the game, especially after recent hints that it could be released on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
Game director Thaddeus Sasser expressed his surprise on LinkedIn, starting his message with: "This is such a strange industry." Jack Burrows, a level designer, commented: "It seems I couldn't dodge that big boot, regardless of the project's success."
Marvel Rivals has generated over $130 million in its first month and shows continuous growth, with the imminent release of two new characters and a new map in the coming weeks. If this trend continues, the title could generate over a billion dollars in revenue during its first year. At this time, an official response from NetEase regarding the situation is awaited.
