Marvel Rivals, the multiplayer shooter that achieved unprecedented success with 20 million players within days of its December 2024 launch, is undergoing layoffs in its US operations. This news comes as a shock to the gaming community, as the game's popularity seemed to guarantee job security for its developers.

According to separate posts by recently laid-off employees on LinkedIn, an unspecified number of employees have been let go. Level designer Jack Burrows and game director Thaddeus Sasser were among those who shared the news, expressing their disappointment and frustration. Sasser wrote, "My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games... and were just laid off!"

The Verge has reached out to NetEase for comment on the scope and reason for the layoffs, but no official statement has been made. The move has sparked outrage among players, who have taken to Steam to voice their discontent through negative user reviews. Out of the roughly 1,000 reviews posted, more than 300 have been negative, with many expressing anger and disappointment that the team behind the game's success is being let go.

Marvel Rivals' success is undeniable, with the game currently sitting at number three on Steam's most-played games chart and ranking among the top 5 games based on weekly active users across Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam. Despite this, the layoffs raise questions about the priorities of game developers and publishers. As Sasser noted in his LinkedIn post, "This is such a weird industry…" The disconnect between the game's success and the layoffs has left many wondering what factors contributed to this decision.

The news also highlights the challenges faced by live-service games in a competitive market. Marvel Rivals, along with Palworld and Helldivers 2, has proven to be one of the standouts in a series of live-service flops. The game's ability to attract and retain a large player base is a testament to its quality, but it seems that even this was not enough to guarantee job security for its developers.

The layoffs at Marvel Rivals' US team serve as a reminder of the often-turbulent nature of the gaming industry. As the industry continues to evolve, it is essential for developers, publishers, and players to re-examine their priorities and values. The success of Marvel Rivals is undeniable, but the layoffs of its US team raise important questions about the industry's treatment of its most valuable asset: its people.