Why Marvel Rivals Faced Cancellation: Insights into NetEase’s Dispute with Disney

Marvel’s Rivals has been a big hit for NetEase since it launched last year. However, it almost didn’t see the light of day. Reports indicate that there were discussions about canceling the game because the CEO didn’t want to pay Disney for using its characters.

As per a recent Bloomberg report, CEO William Ding has been making major changes at NetEase. This includes cutting jobs, closing studios, and reducing international investments due to sluggish growth over the past two and a half years.

It’s said that Marvel’s Rivals, which has already brought in over $200 million since its December launch, was almost dropped. Ding reportedly suggested that designers create new characters instead of using Marvel’s. Thankfully, those ideas were eventually set aside.

This decision highlights the dramatic changes Ding has been making, which have cost the company millions, according to insiders. However, a spokesperson for NetEase claimed that the company has maintained a strong partnership with Marvel since 2017.

Ding’s shift in strategy has affected many Western studios. For example, in November, Mac Walters from BioWare announced a halt at Worlds Untold, a NetEase-backed studio. In January, Jar of Sparks, led by Halo Infinite’s former design head, also stopped operations and laid off employees.

Recently, NetEase cut jobs from the Marvel’s Rivals creative team in the U.S., despite the game’s success. They said this move was to “optimize development efficiency.” Meanwhile, they assured that their global expansion plans are still intact, even as they consider selling off some overseas game companies due to rising expenses.