#NetEase ‘investing extra, not much less’ in Marvel Rivals regardless of U.S. staff layoffs – Destructoid
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Marvel Rivals developer NetEase Video games caught gamers without warning on Feb. 18 when former U.S. staff introduced on LinkedIn that they’d been laid off.
All six members of the Marvel Rivals U.S. staff had been let go, in response to a former worker’s remark to Destructoid. These staff had been actively concerned within the recreation’s growth.
“We need to reassure our fanbase that the core growth staff for Marvel Rivals […] in Guangzhou, China, stays absolutely dedicated to delivering an distinctive expertise,” NetEase Video games wrote to Destructoid in a press release in regards to the layoffs. “We’re investing extra, not much less, into the evolution and development of this recreation.” You’ll be able to learn NetEase’s full assertion on the finish of this text.
Marvel Rivals layoffs got here at an odd time
On the identical day the layoffs had been revealed, NetEase confirmed that The Factor and Human Torch can be becoming a member of Marvel Rivals, reinforcing that the sport stays in energetic growth.
The layoffs additionally got here simply weeks after Blizzard acknowledged that Marvel Rivals’ success is pressuring the Overwatch 2 staff, because it emerges as a significant competitor within the hero shooter area as soon as dominated by Blizzard.
Whereas Blizzard nonetheless views its competitor as “related” to Overwatch 2, the corporate has in a roundabout way echoed former Blizzard management’s claims that Marvel Rivals is copying Overwatch.
Full NetEase Video games assertion on Marvel Rivals’ U.S. layoffs
We just lately made the troublesome resolution to regulate Marvel Rivals’ growth staff construction for organizational causes and to optimize growth effectivity for the sport. This resulted in a discount of a design staff primarily based in Seattle that’s half of a bigger international design operate in assist of Marvel Rivals. We recognize the laborious work and dedication of these affected and can be treating them confidentially and respectfully with recognition for his or her particular person contributions.
We need to reassure our fanbase that the core growth staff for Marvel Rivals, which continues to be led by Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Sport Inventive Director Guangyun Chen in Guangzhou, China, stays absolutely dedicated to delivering an distinctive expertise. We’re investing extra, not much less, into the evolution and development of this recreation. We’re excited to ship new tremendous hero characters, maps, options, and content material to make sure an enticing dwell service expertise for our worldwide participant base.
