Following the unexpected layoffs of the Marvel Rivals U.S. team, NetEase has finally broken its silence, offering clarity on the layoff situation that left many fans and industry insiders scratching their heads. The company released an official statement addressing the cuts and clarifying some key misconceptions about the roles of the dismissed staff, including director Thaddeus Sasser.
A screenshot from the Marvel Rivals Trailer – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
Sasser made headlines when he revealed on LinkedIn that his entire U.S.-based team had been let go, despite the resounding success of Marvel Rivals. His post lamented the decision, highlighting the team’s contribution to creating a new, thriving franchise for NetEase. However, NetEase’s statement offers a more nuanced explanation of what happened behind the scenes.
“Organizational Reasons” Behind Layoffs
According to NetEase, the layoffs were a “difficult decision” made for “organizational reasons” and to “optimize development efficiency.” The cuts specifically targeted the Seattle-based design team, which comprised just six people. NetEase emphasized that the affected employees would be treated “confidentially and respectfully” and that their contributions to the game would be acknowledged.
One of the biggest takeaways from the statement is the clarification regarding Sasser’s role. While he was the game director for the U.S. design team, he was not the game’s creative director, as some had initially assumed. NetEase confirmed that the core development of Marvel Rivals has always been led out of its Guangzhou, China office, under the leadership of Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen.
Commitment to Marvel Rivals’ Future
Despite the layoffs, NetEase was quick to reassure players that Marvel Rivals remains a top priority. The company emphasized that the core Guangzhou team is “fully committed” to the game’s ongoing success and that they are “investing more, not less” into its future. Players can expect more updates, including new superhero characters, maps, and live-service features, as part of the game’s evolving roadmap.
A screenshot from the Marvel Rivals Trailer – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
Here’s NetEase’s official statement on the layoffs:
“We recently made the difficult decision to adjust Marvel Rivals’ development team structure for organizational reasons and to optimize development efficiency for the game. This resulted in a reduction of a design team based in Seattle that is part of a larger global design function in support of Marvel Rivals. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of those affected and will be treating them confidentially and respectfully with recognition for their individual contributions. We want to reassure our fanbase that the core development team for Marvel Rivals, which continues to be led by Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen in Guangzhou, China, remains fully committed to delivering an exceptional experience. We are investing more, not less, into the evolution and growth of this game. We’re excited to deliver new superhero characters, maps, features, and content to ensure an engaging live service experience for our worldwide player base.”
While the statement has provided some clarity, reactions from the community have been mixed. Some players are relieved to hear that the core team is still intact and that the game’s roadmap remains unaffected. However, others remain critical of the decision to lay off a successful team, especially in an industry that has seen an alarming number of layoffs despite strong sales and player engagement.
However, former World of Warcraft team lead Mark Kern, aka Grummz, offered an insider’s perspective into the situation.
It’s wild to see the Marvel Rivals thing be spun out of proportion by legacy media in real-time.
The impact seems far less than they are reporting. Here is what we know:
– 6 people were laid off from the US division of Netease. This may have been the entire size of the Seattle… pic.twitter.com/UcyKiaoShK
— Grummz (@Grummz) February 18, 2025
“The Game Director let go from the U.S. office, who’s linked in post you see everywhere, is Taddeus Sasser,” Grummz said. “In his own words on his podcast interview, he states Chen (the Creative Director) was in charge of the creative vision while he himself handled budgets and manpower. This looks like a simple re-org and a tiny trim of staff. Not the core-shaking development Kotaku and others are trying to make it out to be.”
A screenshot from Marvel Rivals (TBD), NetEase Games
As Marvel Rivals continues to dominate charts on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, fans will be watching closely to see if NetEase can maintain the game’s momentum and keep delivering on its promises.
Do you feel differently about the Marvel Rivals layoffs after hearing from NetEase? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
It’s very simple. Now that the CCP have a successful product, they no longer need the Western devs.
Exactly. It’s basic SOP for communists: coopt and copy.
Maybe the woke who want full communism can be accepted as workers by the CCP rather than trying to transform America? Everyone would win, except for the people who find out how bad communism actually is and would live their lives regretting it.