In recent months, few video games have captured attention quite like Marvel Rivals. However, the success of this hero shooter hasn’t shielded its development team from layoffs.

Thaddeus Sasser, the game director at NetEase Games and head of the Marvel Rivals team, shared on his LinkedIn account that his group has been released from the studio, despite the game’s outstanding performance during its initial two months on the market.

“This is such an unusual industry,” Sasser reflected on LinkedIn. “My outstanding team successfully launched a new franchise with Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games, yet now we find ourselves laid off!”

According to Sasser’s profile, the team had been dedicated to Marvel Rivals since January 2023. In his post about the layoffs, he mentioned that much of his team’s time was spent conducting research and development, focusing on innovative level and gameplay mechanics.

While Sasser did not clarify if he was part of the layoffs, he quickly shifted his focus to assisting affected employees in securing new positions, including level designer Garry McGee, who contributed to the game that has attracted countless players and generated significant revenue since its full release in December 2024.

In his remarks, Sasser highlighted that his Seattle-based team at NetEase specialized in game and level design for Marvel Rivals, providing strategic guidance and design direction over the past couple of years, making it an exciting journey.

Published and developed by NetEase Games, which primarily operates from China, the exact number of similar development teams like Sasser’s remains unclear. Nevertheless, it is evident that many talented designers are on the job hunt as they step into 2025.

Dot Esports has reached out to Sasser for additional comments and clarifications on this evolving story.