Marvel Rivals was almost cancelled before launch because NetEase's CEO didn't want to pay Disney for the use of Marvel characters. This is according to a source speaking to Bloomberg, who says that we almost didn't get the smash-hit hero shooter due to licensing concerns.
The source also states that the CEO, William Ding, asked the game's artists to "swap" licenced characters out with original creations. This idea was scrapped, but was apparently pursued long enough to cost NetEase "millions of dollars".
Even players are angry about NetEase’s layoffs.
In response to Bloomberg, NetEase has denied this, saying that it has been in a partnership with Marvel since 2017. However, other sources speaking in the report paint a picture of a company - and a CEO - which makes abrupt changes in the name of chasing profit and constant growth, potentially explaining the recent layoffs.
On these layoffs, the report states that Ding has cut "hundreds of jobs" over the past year. This is said to be part of an ongoing restructuring effort, as the company has struggled to grow in recent quarters.
One area that has seen growth is its gaming division, with Marvel Rivals proving to be...
