In a surprising plot twist that emerged from the world of video game development, the North American team responsible for shaping the immersive superhero game, “Marvel Rivals,” has recently been affected by a wave of job cuts. Thaddeus Sasser, who held a significant role as one of the game’s directors, revealed through a post on his LinkedIn account that he and the team he belonged to received the pink slips and were dismissed from their duties on the game as of February 18, 2025. This development struck just over two months post the game’s official release, raising many questions about the future of the game.
Also caught in the wave of these layoffs was Jack Burrows, a lead level designer on the same project. Sharing his news in a similar style via LinkedIn, he mentioned that his colleagues, fellow members of the American NetEase Games team, share his predicament and were also laid off. Burrows and Sasser both stated that the entire American NetEase Games team, involved in the development process for Marvel Rivals, were no longer part of the project. This unfortunate news opened a new chapter in their professional lives and thus, both Burrows and Sasser actively started advocating for their teammates in search of new job opportunities.
Adding a jarring note to the unfolding situation, these unsettling announcements were made shortly after Marvel Rivals had pulled the wraps off gameplay trailers for two of its latest heroes, The Thing and The Human Torch, hinting at the game’s ongoing developments.
Corroborating the troubling trend, NetEase has also been involved in layoffs that led to the shutting down of Ouka Studios. Ouka Studios was behind the creation of Visions of Mana, a renowned game among enthusiasts. NetEase was the one to pick up the mantle after they took over the operations for the Square Enix mobile game, Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. They lately catered to player issues in relation to the English language localization of the game.
As of this moment, much is left to speculate about with plenty of unknown factors. A looming uncertainty hangs over the impact these layoffs will have on the content and future updates of the game. Furthermore, no comment has been forthcoming from NetEase regarding the reasons for these sudden layoffs or whether there will be any shift in the planning for the subsequent game trajectory.
Despite the turmoil in game development, Marvel Rivals is readily available to gaming aficionados around the globe on various platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC. Fans can look forward to Season 2, which is anticipated to be launched in April 2025. However, considering the current situation, it remains to be seen if the latest events will affect the company’s plans to continue support for the game positively.
These developments remind us of the often turbulent world of video game development, where creators can be faced with unpredictable circumstances. For the fans and the gaming community alike, these events offer a chance to rally behind the developers and extend support in uncertain times. At https://awesomeradicalgaming.com/, we’ll continue to cover updates on this story as it evolves.
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