It’s no secret that NetEase is in the process of laying off its Western teams working on Marvel Rivals, but according to VentureBeat, this is just the beginning!
According to the site’s sources, the Chinese giant has lost interest in working with Western developers for its future projects. This is due to salaries deemed too high, particularly in the United States, and to the growth of the sector in China. Indeed, a success such as Black Myth: Wukong now proves that the country is capable of producing AAA titles on its own.
NetEase could stop financing Western projects altogether, and withdraw its holdings from companies, which would in turn lead to layoffs and game cancellations.
VentureBeat contacted NetEase, who has denied all this information. However, the site remains confident in its sources. Only time will tell, but should this strategy materialize, the ramifications would be far-reaching. The Chinese giant is currently working with studios such as Quantic Dream, Worlds Untold and Liquid Swords, the latter of which has already laid some staff.
