NetEase's Marvel Rivals Hits 40 Million Players

NetEase's 'Marvel Rivals' has achieved significant success, surpassing 40 million players worldwide despite challenges, including potential cancellation due to high Disney licensing fees for Marvel characters like Spider-Man and Wolverine. Initially, NetEase CEO William Ding considered scrapping the game, but a close partnership with Marvel since 2017 allowed its launch, quickly becoming a hit. Despite its popularity, NetEase laid off a US-based development team to optimize production. The game continues to thrive, with new characters The Human Torch and The Thing set for release in an upcoming update. These developments highlight NetEase's broader strategy to innovate and expand globally, although it has paused or shut down several other projects.