Summary
- Marvel Rivals almost faced cancellation due to worries about Disney’s character licensing fees.
- Despite its profitability, layoffs occurred as NetEase downsized its U.S. team.
- The development team in China continues to create new content for the game.
Marvel Rivals, developed by NetEase Games, was initially on the brink of cancellation before its release, according to new reports. The game has performed exceptionally well, netting substantial revenue in less than three months. Now well-established, concerns surrounding its ties to Disney may have hindered its launch.
After its debut on December 6, 2024, the game rapidly gained traction, achieving over 444,000 concurrent players in its opening 24 hours and surpassing 10 million players shortly thereafter, holding a commanding presence on Steam.
More recently, Marvel Rivals reached another significant player milestone, reported during an earnings call that confirmed its peak player count is now at 40 million.
NetEase’s founder, William Ding, was reportedly apprehensive about bearing the costs associated with Disney. Denials from NetEase have surfaced, asserting a positive and long-standing relationship with Disney, contradicting claims of any intent to proceed without the Marvel affiliation.
