Marvel Rivals, a highly successful game, has recently faced unexpected layoffs at the US development team despite its surge in popularity. Currently hosting over 200,000 players on Steam, the game’s director, Thaddeus Sasser, announced the layoffs on LinkedIn, expressing disbelief at the decision.

“This is such a weird industry,” Sasser remarked. “My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games…and were just laid off!”

In a separate update, level designer Jack Burrows confirmed his layoff, highlighting the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the team.

Meanwhile, the game’s impressive performance — raking in an estimated $136 million in its first month — raises questions about the rationale behind such drastic measures.

Despite its success, the general trend suggests that NetEase may be scaling back operations in the US, as they have previously ended funding for various studios and projects.