Marvel Rivals Devs Suddenly Fired - Fans in Shock Over Game's Future
Despite Marvel Rivals being a hit free game, developers at NetEase Games are getting laid off. Players are worried about what this means for the game's future, even though it's doing well.
Marvel Rivals fans just got a jolt of bad news: even though the game is popular, some of the people making it are losing their jobs. This really shows how shaky things can be in the video game world. Even when a game seems to be doing great, it doesn't mean everyone involved is safe.
The news popped up when the Game Director for Marvel Rivals, Thaddeus Sasser, posted a message on LinkedIn. He was basically saying he supported his colleagues who were affected. This was the first sign that something was wrong, and it quickly became clear that people were being let go from the team at NetEase Games.
Right now, we don't know exactly who was fired, or if Sasser himself is out of a job too. It seems like the layoffs hit the American part of NetEase Games, the studio in Seattle. This makes people wonder if the main development will now be handled by the Chinese branch of the company. This is happening just as Marvel Rivals is starting its first season of new content, which makes the timing feel even stranger.
Some people who aren't in the game industry might be confused by this. They might think free-to-play games are just risky and don't make money. But games like Fortnite prove that's not true. Fortnite has been free for years and is a massive success, making tons of money from players buying things in the game, like outfits and season passes. Marvel Rivals is set up the same way – it makes money from these kinds of purchases.
It's reported that Marvel Rivals made over $130 million in its first month after launching in December 2004. If that's true, it's even more shocking that developers are being fired. These are the people who made the game fun to play and look good. It's another sign of tough times in the game industry right now. We're seeing studios closing down, companies merging, and it feels like everyone is worried about money after the boom during COVID. There's also the fear that new AI technology might start replacing human game creators.
Now, players are worried about what's next for Marvel Rivals. Some are thinking we'll only see small updates and that NetEase Games will just reuse old content and skins to save money. The big takeaway is that in today's game industry, no one's job is completely safe, even if they're working on a game that looks like a hit. Game directors, programmers, artists – everyone is probably feeling less secure right now.
Source(s): Official Xbox Subreddit
