GamingMarvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals devs address Game Director & US office layoffs

byJames Busby
Iron Man flyingNetEase Games
If you disconnect in Marvel Rivals, you might not get back in before it’s too late.

Marvel Rivals devs have issued a statement following the layoffs of its US Game Director and Seattle division.

On February 18, 2025, Marvel Rivals US Game Director Thaddeus Sasser announced on LinkedIn that he and his entire Seattle team had been suddenly let go. This news came as a shock to many, with the Game Director voicing his surprise over the decision.

“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?” he explained.

NetEase reveals reason behind Marvel Rivals layoffs

Marvel Rivals heroes fightingNetEase Games

As for the reasoning behind the layoffs, NetEase revealed that it was required “for organizational reasons and to optimize development efficiency for the game.” In a post outlined by Stephen Totilo on X, the devs explained what led to this “difficult decision, as well as assuring fans that they’re still working to deliver an “exceptional experience”.

The full statement is as follows:

“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 super hero characters, maps, features, and content to ensure an engaging live service experience for our worldwide player base.”