NetEase confirmed in February 2025 that it reduced a Seattle-based design team supporting Marvel Rivals. Game director Thaddeus Sasser separately said his team had been laid off. The statements do not establish that the game’s entire development team was dismissed: NetEase said its core team remained in Guangzhou.
What NetEase confirmed
NetEase told GameSpot that it had adjusted the game’s development team structure “for organizational reasons and to optimize development efficiency.” The company described the resulting cuts as a reduction of “a design team based in Seattle” that was part of a larger global design function supporting Marvel Rivals. Game Developer also reported the company’s explanation.
That is the company’s description of the change; it does not provide a confirmed number of employees affected or a complete list of roles.
What Thaddeus Sasser said
Contemporaneous reports identified Thaddeus Sasser as a game director on Marvel Rivals. Sasser publicly said his team had been laid off. In a post quoted by GameSpot, he wrote that his “stellar, talented team” had helped deliver the successful new franchise. His account describes his team’s experience; it should not be treated as evidence that he was the game’s sole or overall director, or that every development group was dismissed.
#1 Best Overall
- HIGHLY ARTICULATED FIGURE: Features 90 points of articulation allowing for dynamic action poses and display options, bringing Venom to life from Marvel Rivals
- DETAILED MODEL KIT: Includes 185 pieces with movable tentacles, rotatable tongue, and adjustable hips to capture Venom's fierce and menacing character
- ICONIC ACCESSORIES: Comes with Venom tentacles and attack effect hand accessories to recreate epic battle scenes and signature moves
- TOOL-FREE ASSEMBLY: Easy snap-together construction requires no tools or glue, making assembly quick and straightforward for builders ages 14 and up
- PERFECT SIZE: Stands approximately 6 inches tall, making it an ideal display piece for desks, shelves, or alongside other Marvel collectibles
Did the game’s development end?
NetEase said the core development team remained in Guangzhou, China, led by Lead Producer Weicong Wu and Game Creative Director Guangyun Chen. The company also said it remained committed to the game and planned to continue development. Those are NetEase’s statements about its team and intentions, not independent verification of future plans.
GeekWire’s local reporting likewise distinguished the Seattle design team from the Guangzhou core. The confirmed reduction therefore does not establish that Marvel Rivals development as a whole stopped.
Rank #2
- BLOKEES ACTION FIGURE: Officially branded Moon Knight-style armored action figure with striking white and dark armor design.
- DETAILED SCULPT: Features intricate armor plating, crescent moon symbols, Egyptian ankh markings, and a dramatic flowing white cape.
- ICONIC DESIGN: Front and back cape detailing includes a crescent moon emblem, with a hooded cowl and full-body armored suit.
- DISPLAY READY: Dynamic pose-ready figure with articulated limbs, making it perfect for display on shelves or desks.
- GREAT FOR COLLECTORS: A must-have addition for fans of armored superhero action figures.
What is known—and what is not
- Established: NetEase said it reduced the Seattle-based design team supporting the game, citing organizational reasons and development efficiency.
- Separately reported: Sasser said his team had been laid off.
- NetEase’s account: The core team remained in Guangzhou under Wu and Chen, and the company said development would continue.
- Not established in the cited coverage: A verified headcount, the full set of affected roles, or the internal decision-making behind the restructuring.
Marvel Rivals had been announced by NetEase Games and Marvel Games in March 2024 as a team-based 6v6 PvP shooter. That context does not change the scope of the February 2025 staffing announcement.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- TEAM-UP WITH A MARVEL RIVALS: The Moon Knight figure is inspired by his appearance in the Marvel Rivals video game where Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Marvel Multiverse use their incredible abilities to battle
- GAMING-INSPIRED ACCESSORIES: Hasbro Marvel Legends action figure come with 5 accessories including 2 crescent darts, 2 billy clubs and an alternate moon-shaped cape
- PREMIUM DESIGN AND DECO IN WINDOW BOX PACKAGE: Fans and collectors can display this premium 6 inch action figure (15 cm) in their collection with game-inspired design, deco, and collectible packaging featuring dynamic artwork
- DISPLAY-WORTHY ARTICULATION: Collectible action figures feature over 20 points of articulation with fully poseable heads, arms, and legs to pose your Duelists, Vanguards, and Strategists locked in battle in a Timestream Entanglement
- MOON GOD'S CHOSEN: Bathed in a luminous aura that pierces the darkness, Moon Knight glides through the night, ready to sear his enemies with his master's sacred Ankhs
Rank #3
- TEAM-UP WITH A MARVEL RIVALS: The Punisher figure is inspired by his appearance in the Marvel Rivals video game where Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Marvel Multiverse use their incredible abilities to battle
- GAMING-INSPIRED ACCESSORIES: Hasbro Marvel Legends action figure come with 9 accessories including alternate head, 2 alternate hands, 4 blast effects, and 2 weapon accessories to pose unleashing his Deliverance and Adjudication game attack abilities
- PREMIUM DESIGN AND DECO IN WINDOW BOX PACKAGE: Fans and collectors can display this premium 6 inch scale action figure (15 cm) in their collection with game-inspired design, deco, and collectible packaging featuring dynamic artwork
- DISPLAY-WORTHY ARTICULATION: Collectible action figures feature over 20 points of articulation with fully poseable heads, arms, and legs to pose your Duelists, Vanguards, and Strategists locked in battle in a Timestream Entanglement
- LIVING ARSENAL: Frank Castle, or The Punisher, expertly wields a full arsenal of futuristic weapons and has a steadfast resolve to deliver justice to his enemies
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