NetEase Reports Marvel Rivals Hits 40 Million Players After Recent Layoffs
In a surprising update, NetEase reveals that its popular hero shooter Marvel Rivals has surpassed 40 million players, highlighting a surge in interest despite recent staff cuts.
Overview
Just days after confirming the layoff of employees at its Seattle studio, NetEase says its hit hero shooter Marvel Rivals has now surpassed 40 million players, and had climbed back to the top of the Steam charts on the strength of its first season in January.
“Marvel Rivals topped Steam’s global top sellers chart shortly after its launch on December 6, amassing over 10 million registered users within 72 hours and over 40 million to date,” NetEase said in its Q4 2024 earnings release. “Its Season 1 update in January 2025 sparked another surge, claiming the No. 1 spots on Steam’s top sellers and most-played charts worldwide.”
Marvel Rivals continues to demonstrate impressive numbers, but this news likely offers little comfort to the former employees of NetEase’s Seattle studio, which recently underwent significant layoffs due to purported organizational restructuring and efficiency optimization.
NetEase’s gross profit for the quarter was RMB16.3 billion (US$2.2 billion), which was slightly down from RMB16.8 billion (US$2.3 billion) earned the previous quarter. The decrease was primarily attributed to a drop in revenues from mobile games but partially countered by increased revenues from PC games, which may include Marvel Rivals.
“We boldly pushed the boundaries of innovation once again in 2024, delivering groundbreaking gaming experiences that captivated players worldwide,” said NetEase CEO William Ding. “As our diverse game portfolio expands across more genres… we remain dedicated to fostering creativity and collaborating with top talent and strategic partners to shape the next wave of gaming trends.”
These player statistics emerge just days after NetEase laid off its U.S.-based Marvel Rivals development team. While the core development continues in China, speculation arises suggesting that the layoffs could be in reaction to U.S. policy shifts under President Donald Trump. Analyst Daniel Ahmad suggests that cost-cutting measures and operational challenges post-Covid have driven companies to streamline their operations, evident in NetEase’s recent funding reductions for U.S. development studios.
As the gaming industry evolves rapidly, such trends highlight both challenges and opportunities in the landscape.
