NetEase confirmed a reduction affecting a Seattle-based design team that supported Marvel Rivals; GeekWire reported that six U.S. employees were dismissed. The move did not amount to layoffs of the entire game-development team: the core team was based in Guangzhou, China, and NetEase said it remained committed to the game.
What happened to NetEase’s Seattle team?
In a statement to GeekWire on February 18, 2025, NetEase said it had adjusted Marvel Rivals’ development structure, resulting in a reduction of a Seattle-based design team. The company described that group as part of a larger global design function supporting the game, rather than the full development team.
GeekWire reported that six U.S. employees were dismissed, including level designer Garry McGee. That number should be attributed to GeekWire: PC Gamer reported on February 18, 2025 that NetEase did not give it a headcount in its statement.
Why did NetEase make the cuts?
NetEase said the decision was made “for organizational reasons and to optimize development efficiency for the game,” according to its statement to GeekWire. The company also said it appreciated the affected employees’ work and would recognize their individual contributions.
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The public explanation does not establish a more specific motive. The available reporting does not verify that the cuts were driven by the game’s finances, performance, outsourcing, or an internal conflict, so those should not be treated as explanations for the decision.
Was the entire Marvel Rivals team laid off?
No. The Seattle group was a design team supporting the game within a global development function. NetEase’s statement to GameSpot on February 19, 2025 identified Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen as leaders of the core team in Guangzhou, China, and said that team remained committed to the game’s development.
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GameSpot reported that NetEase described the Guangzhou team as “fully committed to delivering an exceptional experience” and said it was “investing more, not less, into the evolution and growth of this game.” Those comments describe the company’s stated plans; they do not provide a detailed account of how the Seattle reduction would affect specific work or employees.
What did the game director say?
GeekWire reported that game director Thaddeus Sasser posted that his team had been laid off. The outlet quoted him: “This is such a weird industry,” Sasser wrote. “My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games… and were just laid off!”
Rank #3
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- GAMING-INSPIRED ACCESSORIES: Hasbro Marvel Legends action figure come with 9 accessories including alternate head, 2 alternate hands, 4 blast effects, and 2 weapon accessories to pose unleashing his Deliverance and Adjudication game attack abilities
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What is known—and what is not
- Confirmed by NetEase: a Seattle-based design team supporting Marvel Rivals was reduced for organizational reasons and to improve development efficiency.
- Reported by GeekWire: six U.S. employees were dismissed, including level designer Garry McGee.
- Reported about the continuing development team: NetEase identified a Guangzhou-based core team and said it remained committed to the game.
- Not established in the cited reports: the affected employees’ subsequent employment outcomes, a complete list of their roles, or any internal rationale beyond NetEase’s public explanation.
How the game’s development context fits
When NetEase Games and Marvel Games announced Marvel Rivals on March 27, 2024, they described it as a team-based PvP shooter developed for PC by a NetEase team of global talent. The announcement highlighted 6v6 combat, team-up skills, destructible environments, and planned seasonal additions. That was a development-era description, not a statement of the game’s current format. GeekWire’s 2025 report described the released game as free-to-play on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, with 5v5 battles.
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Rank #4
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- GAMING-INSPIRED ACCESSORIES: Hasbro Marvel Legends action figure come with 5 accessories including 2 crescent darts, 2 billy clubs and an alternate moon-shaped cape
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