NetEase cuts Marvel Rivals Seattle design team as game hits peak success
Summary
NetEase confirmed layoffs at its Seattle-based support studio for Marvel Rivals
The entire Seattle design team has been eliminated for "organisational reasons"
The move comes despite the game's massive commercial success post-launch
Core development in China remains intact and fully operational
"We recently made the difficult decision to adjust Marvel Rivals' development team structure for organisational reasons and to optimise development efficiency for the game"
01
Seattle team fully cut despite Marvel Rivals' breakout launch
NetEase eliminated its entire Seattle-based design team supporting Marvel Rivals
No Seattle-based developers remain on the project following the cuts
Number of employees affected was not disclosed by NetEase
The layoffs follow Marvel Rivals reaching 10 million players within 72 hours of its December launch
Timing highlights a growing industry pattern - support studios axed after successful launches
02
Affected devs speak out on team contributions
Level designer Garry McGee confirmed the layoffs publicly via LinkedIn
"My team recently helped develop and launch Marvel Rivals, which turned out to be a bigger hit than any of us expected. Unfortunately, my team was also laid off. Strange times all across the industry indeed."
McGee noted the role expanded beyond his direct design function during the project
03
China-based core team stays focused on long-term growth
NetEase confirmed the core development team in China remains fully committed to the game
Company pledged to "invest more, not less" into Marvel Rivals' evolution going forward
NetEase framed the restructuring as a move to "optimise development efficiency"
04
Outlook - centralized development model going forward
Marvel Rivals development will now operate entirely out of NetEase's China studio
No plans for US-based headcount were indicated in NetEase's statement
The game's continued growth trajectory puts pressure on the core team to deliver without Western support infrastructure
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