New Report Claims ‘Marvel Rivals’ Was Almost Canceled Prior to Release

Mark
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The news that Marvel Rivals faced potential cancellation before its release is catching many off guard, especially considering the game’s success in reaching over 40 million players. It has been reported that there were serious discussions about pulling the plug on the game even before it launched.

One of the reasons behind this was reportedly NetEase CEO William Ding’s reluctance to pay Disney for using well-known Marvel characters like Spider-Man and Wolverine. Ding allegedly pushed for replacing these iconic heroes with original characters from NetEase, but this never came to fruition.

Despite the change not happening, sources claim the process was costly, running into millions of dollars. However, a NetEase spokesperson denied this account, stressing the company’s long-standing relationship with Disney, which has existed since 2017.

The sudden layoff of Marvel Rivals developers based in the US also raised questions. Despite the game’s success, NetEase announced restructuring the team to improve efficiency. This led to a downsizing of the design team in Seattle, part of a broader global team supporting the game.

In addition to this, Ding reportedly cut support for several other projects, leaving NetEase’s China-based studios without any major releases for the upcoming year. NetEase is also said to have no plans to push its Japanese games further.

Despite this, NetEase’s first western studio, Jackalyptic Games, is working on a Warhammer MMO that has been well-received by other publishers. However, there has been little information released about the game so far. In a statement, Ding emphasized NetEase’s commitment to its overseas studios, even amid all these cutbacks.

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Mark is the kind of person who gets way too excited about new software updates and can’t resist taking apart gadgets—just to see if they can put them back together. With years of experience in tech journalism and a love for all things digital, Mark writes about the stories behind the screens, from game-changing innovations to the everyday tech that keeps life running smoothly. Outside of work, they’re the go-to “tech support” for friends and family, whether it’s fixing a printer that won’t cooperate or explaining why Grandma’s laptop keeps showing pop-ups. When Mark isn’t glued to their screen, they’re probably building their dream PC, rewatching sci-fi movies for the hundredth time, or testing a gadget that promises to “change everything.” Spoiler: they’ll let you know if it actually does.