NetEase, the developer behind the successful mobile game Marvel Rivals, has confirmed layoffs within its Seattle-based design team. Game director Thaddeus Sasser announced the cuts on LinkedIn, expressing surprise given the game's recent success. Marvel Rivals, a free-to-play hero shooter, has achieved over 20 million downloads since its December launch and boasts impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam.

Sasser's LinkedIn profile indicates his team's contributions to game and level design for Marvel Rivals over the past two years. NetEase's statement confirmed the restructuring for "organizational reasons" and to optimize development efficiency, but didn't disclose the number of affected employees. The company emphasized its commitment to respectful and confidential treatment of those laid off.

NetEase reassured players that ongoing support for Marvel Rivals will not be affected. The core development team, based in Guangzhou, China, and led by Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen, remains dedicated to delivering new content and features, including new characters, maps, and gameplay enhancements.

This latest round of layoffs follows NetEase's withdrawal from several overseas investments and the closure of studios in the U.S. and Japan, including Ouka Studios (developer of Visions of Mana). Previous closures also include Worlds Untold and Jar of Sparks.