Marvel Rivals Layoffs: US Game Director Breaks Silence On Seattle Team Layoff by NetEase
Marvel Rivals' US Game Director Thaddeus Sasser and his Seattle-based team were suddenly laid off by NetEase Games. What does this mean for the game’s future? Read the latest updates.
In a surprising turn of events, Marvel Rivals’ US Game Director Thaddeus Sasser took to LinkedIn on February 18, 2025, to announce that he and his entire Seattle-based team had been suddenly let go. This unexpected move left many in the gaming community stunned, especially since the team had just helped launch the hugely successful Marvel Rivals franchise for NetEase Games.
Sasser shared his thoughts on the situation, expressing both shock and support for his former colleagues:
“My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games… and were just laid off! Oh well. Times are tough all over – Let’s find these incredible people new jobs, because we all need to eat, right?”
NetEase Responds to the Layoffs
Following the news, NetEase issued an official statement explaining the decision. According to the company, the layoffs were made for organizational reasons and to optimize development efficiency.
In a post shared by Stephen Totilo on X (formerly Twitter), NetEase acknowledged the difficult choice and reassured players that the game’s development was still going strong.
Official NetEase Statement
“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.”
What This Means for Marvel Rivals
Despite the layoffs, NetEase insists that development on Marvel Rivals remains a priority. With the lead team in Guangzhou still at the helm, players can expect continued updates and fresh content. However, the sudden restructuring raises questions about the long-term direction of the game and whether this shift will affect its development pace or overall vision.
For now, fans can only wait and see what’s next for Marvel Rivals while hoping that the Seattle team members land on their feet in new roles soon.
