Marvel Rivals Developer Announces Staff Layoffs

Layoffs Impact Marvel Rivals Development Team

Recent developments within the North American team for Marvel Rivals have raised concerns following significant layoffs. Thaddeus Sasser, a game director involved in the project’s development, announced via his LinkedIn profile that he and his entire team were released from their positions on February 18, 2025, a mere two months after the game’s comprehensive launch.

Additionally, Jack Burrows, the lead level designer for Marvel Rivals, confirmed his layoff through his own LinkedIn update. In his message, Burrows expressed solidarity with his affected colleagues and noted that all laid-off team members were part of the American segment of NetEase Games. Both he and Sasser have actively highlighted their former teammates’ search for new employment opportunities on social media platforms.

The announcement of these layoffs coincided with the release of gameplay trailers featuring new characters, The Thing and The Human Torch. Moreover, NetEase has been involved in other notable changes within its operations, including the closure of Ouka Studios, which was responsible for the development of Visions of Mana. Recently, they also took over the management of Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent from Square Enix, where they addressed concerns regarding localization issues in the English version of the game.

As of now, the broader implications of the layoffs on the game’s content and future updates remain uncertain. NetEase has not provided specific explanations for the layoffs or clarified how these changes might affect the ongoing development of Marvel Rivals.

For those interested, Marvel Rivals is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC, with the second season poised to commence around April 2025.

For more information, visit the original article on Siliconera.