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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteNo: reporting did not say NetEase laid off the entire Marvel Rivals development team. In February 2025, the company dismissed six U.S. employees from a Seattle-based design group supporting the game, while its core development team remained in Guangzhou, China.
What happened in February 2025?
On February 18, 2025, GeekWire reported that NetEase had dismissed six U.S. employees, including level designer Garry McGee. The affected group was a Seattle-based design team supporting Marvel Rivals. The report followed game director Thaddeus Sasser’s post that his team had been laid off.
Neither the report nor the company statement established the Seattle group’s full headcount or provided a complete list of affected roles. The reported figure is six U.S. employees, not a claim that every person who worked on the game was dismissed.
Did NetEase eliminate the whole Marvel Rivals team?
No. GeekWire reported that the game’s core development team was headquartered in Guangzhou, China. In a fuller statement reproduced by GameSpot on February 19, 2025, NetEase said the Guangzhou core team, led by Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen, remained committed to delivering the game.
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The distinction is between a Seattle design group within a larger global design function and the broader development organization. Calling the event a layoff of an “entire team” overstates what the cited reporting supports.
Why were the developers laid off?
NetEase described the decision as an organizational adjustment intended to optimize development efficiency. Its spokesperson told GeekWire: “We recently made the difficult decision to adjust Marvel Rivals’ development team structure for organizational reasons and to optimize development efficiency for the game.” The spokesperson also said the move reduced “a design team based in Seattle that is part of a larger global design function in support of Marvel Rivals.”
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That is the company’s stated rationale, not independently verified evidence of a deeper business motive. The reports do not establish a financial or strategic reason beyond NetEase’s explanation.
Sasser expressed surprise at the cuts in a LinkedIn post quoted by GeekWire: “This is such a weird industry. My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games… and were just laid off!” His comment conveys the director’s reaction; it does not establish the company’s underlying reason.
How did the layoffs relate to the game’s success?
The cuts were reported after a strong launch. GameSpot cited launch-era milestones of 10 million players in the first 72 hours and 20 million the following week. Those are historical figures from the game’s launch period, not current player counts. The reports do not establish that launch performance caused or prevented the staffing decision.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Marvel Rivals still receiving updates?
Yes, official patch notes dated October 6, 2026 announced Season 10.5 content and an update scheduled to begin October 9 at 09:00 UTC. The notes describe new modes and seasonal content. This shows the game was still receiving updates after the February 2025 layoffs; it does not establish Seattle staffing levels or guarantee future support.
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NetEase Games and Marvel Games had announced Marvel Rivals on March 27, 2024 as a team-based PvP shooter in development for PC by a NetEase team composed of global talent. That earlier description is consistent with the cross-location structure described in the layoff coverage, but does not provide a headcount for any location.
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