NetEase Axes Marvel Rivals Director, US Team

NetEase Games Cuts US Development Team Despite Marvel Rivals Performance

NetEase has terminated Marvel Rivals' US-based development staff even as the game achieves commercial success. Get details about these unexpected layoffs and upcoming Season 1 updates for Marvel Rivals.

NetEase Restructuring Impacts North American Operations

Marvel Rivals Creative Director and US Team Let Go

Thaddeus Sasser, Marvel Rivals' game director, revealed on LinkedIn that NetEase terminated his position along with other California-based developers on February 19, 2025.

"Our industry never fails to surprise," Sasser wrote. "My exceptional team just delivered NetEase's hit new franchise Marvel Rivals...and we're all suddenly jobless."

Despite the setback, Sasser immediately began networking to help his former colleagues land new positions. "These economic times affect everyone - let's get these brilliant people employed elsewhere because bills don't pay themselves."

He highlighted technical designer Garry McGee first: "Garry was instrumental throughout development - a deeply technical designer currently specializing in level design with tremendous problem-solving skills. If I had an opening, I'd rehire him immediately."

Sasser appears committed to individually promoting each team member's credentials to potential employers in the gaming industry.

NetEase Withdraws from North America Despite Successful Titles

Marvel Rivals was co-developed by teams in China and Seattle. While Sasser's team focused on game and level design, even their crucial contributions couldn't prevent these surprise layoffs amid broader industry cuts.

NetEase hasn't commented officially, but a Bungie employee suggested the company is reducing its North American presence. This follows earlier exits including withdrawing funding from Worlds Untold studio (November 2024) and terminating the Jar of Sparks partnership (January 2025).

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Midpoint Update

Exciting New Content Coming

The mid-season update introduces new playable characters, maps, balance changes, and competitive events as announced on February 19, 2025 by creative director Guangguang and lead combat designer Zhiyong.

Players can expect The Thing and Human Torch, completing the Fantastic Four roster. Central Park becomes a new battleground with Dracula's castle as a key landmark.

Key balance adjustments target the current triple-strategist meta by increasing ultimate energy costs for fast-charging characters like Cloak & Dagger and Loki. Vanguard characters receive survivability tweaks, while overpowered heroes like Storm and Moon Knight get nerfs.

Developers scrapped a controversial planned rank reset system after negative fan feedback. Originally intended to demote all players four tiers, the feature was removed entirely before implementation.