Marvel’s Gaming Universe Surpasses 40 Million Players Amidst Industry Challenges
Marvel Rivals has exceeded 40 million players globally after reaching 10 million users within 72 hours of its launch.
NetEase announced these milestones in its financial report for the fiscal year ending December 2024, and highlighted that the free-to-play hero shooter experienced another “surge” after its Season 1 update in January 2025, securing the top spot on Steam’s global best-sellers and most-played lists.
Marvel Rivals debuted on December 6, 2024, and has seemingly delivered positive results for NetEase. Despite these successes, the Chinese company terminated a number of Marvel Rivals developers located in the United States earlier this week.
In a statement provided to Game Developer, the company explained that these layoffs were implemented to “enhance developmental efficiency” and assured that it would continue to invest in the game.
NetEase financial results indicate growth
Commenting on its financial performance, NetEase stated that total income related to ‘Video games and associated value-added services’ increased by 1.5 percent during the fourth quarter to $2.9 billion.
Full-year revenue in this segment grew to $11.5 billion in FY24 from $11.2 billion in FY23.
“Net revenue from online game operations represented about 96.2 percent of the segment’s overall net revenue for fiscal year 2024, compared to 92.9 percent for fiscal year 2023,” stated NetEase.
“Revenue from mobile games constituted approximately 72.7 percent of total revenues from online game operations for fiscal year 2024, compared to 75.2 percent for fiscal year 2023.”
“The shift in revenue mix was primarily due to increased income generated by PC games such as Naraka: Bladepoint and licensed titles..“
NetEase CEO William Ding remarked that the company “pushed the limits of innovation in 2024” and aims to keep expanding its gaming portfolio.
“Our new successful titles not only redefined gameplay but also set new industry standards, while our established franchises gained renewed momentum through enhancements in gameplay, storytelling, and immersive content,” he further stated.
“As our diverse game portfolio spans across various genres and captivates an ever-expanding global audience, we remain committed to nurturing creativity and collaborating with top talent and strategic partners to shape the next wave of gaming trends.”
About the Author
News Editor, GameDeveloper.com
Game Developer’s news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist with over ten years of experience in the gaming industry. His works have appeared in prominent print and digital publications, including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has reported on major industry events like GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has served on the judging panel for The Develop Awards multiple times and has appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.