Marvel Rivals, the popular hero shooter game, was nearly cancelled before its release. The publisher, NetEase, hesitated to move forward because of the high licensing fees needed to use Marvel characters from Disney.
Reports say NetEase CEO William Ding considered scrapping the project because the licensing costs were too high.
The company debated whether to create original characters instead of paying for Marvel’s popular superheroes. However, the decision to proceed paid off, as Marvel Rivals now has over 40 million players worldwide.
Despite the game’s success, NetEase recently announced job cuts and studio closures, including the Marvel Rivals studio in Seattle. This move is part of the company’s larger restructuring plan.
Marvel Rivals’ near-cancellation shows how business decisions behind the scenes can shape even the biggest gaming hits.
Fans are now hoping the game continues to thrive despite the ongoing changes at NetEase.
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