Marvel Rivals is currently taking the gaming world by storm, yet it’s surprising to learn that NetEase’s CEO once considered scrapping it entirely.
This blockbuster game has already roped in 40 million players, which is no small feat—imagine a fanbase larger than the entire population of Poland! It’s clearly a success story, yet the news of American developers being laid off amidst its triumph introduces an unexpected plot twist. A recent Bloomberg report (which is behind a paywall) offers some insight into the internal dynamics at NetEase. Apparently, the game’s very existence was on shaky ground because CEO William Ding was hesitant about paying Disney for Marvel character licenses.
His reluctance was so strong that he even tasked the designers with crafting original characters, steering away from the Marvel universe. Discussions even veered towards pulling the plug on the project, which had already sucked millions out of NetEase’s coffers. However, despite these tensions, a spokesperson insisted that NetEase has maintained a solid partnership with Marvel since 2017. This paints a rather tumultuous scene at the company, further complicated by Ding’s 2018 ambition to derive half of its revenue from international markets. Part of this strategy included investing in developers like Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, although, curiously, the future of his project seems uncertain—yet reportedly, it’s been granted time to address its current tasks.
The layoffs, particularly in a climate where Marvel Rivals appears to be a cash cow, make little sense. NetEase assures that despite the workforce reductions, the “core development team” in China is still dedicated to providing an exceptional gaming experience. However, whether this optimism translates into reality—especially with intentions to introduce a new hero every 45 days—remains to be seen.
