In a recent episode of the VideoGamer podcast from November 2024, Thaddeus Sasser, the Game Director for Marvel Rivals, clarified his unique responsibilities compared to those of the Creative Director. He emphasized that Guangyun Chen remains the primary visionary behind the game, while his focus has been primarily on managing resources and budgets. As a result, although Sasser’s exit may influence the production dynamics, players are unlikely to notice a difference since Chen will continue to represent the game as its leading figure.

Regarding the extent of recent layoffs, Nick Calandra, the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Second Wind, revealed that only six members of the American Division for Marvel Rivals were affected by NetEase’s latest job cuts. In contrast, the company employs over 10,000 individuals, as noted on their LinkedIn profile. This means the layoffs had a minimal numerical impact. However, sensational headlines like “NetEase fires entire US branch, including Marvel Rivals’ Game Director” naturally attract more attention than the more straightforward “NetEase lays off six developers,” which may explain the heightened focus on the situation.