Overview of Marvel Rivals’ Success
Just two days after announcing layoffs in its Seattle studio, NetEase shared exciting news about its hit hero shooter, Marvel Rivals. The game has now surpassed an impressive milestone of 40 million players. This revelation follows the game’s remarkable trajectory since its launch.
Launch and Rapid Growth
Marvel Rivals debuted on December 6 and quickly topped Steam’s global best sellers chart. Within a mere 72 hours of its launch, the game attracted over 10 million registered users, highlighting its instant appeal. NetEase stated in its Q4 2024 earnings release that this rapid growth has continued, allowing Marvel Rivals to climb back to the top of the Steam charts thanks to the success of its first season launched in January.
Financial Impact and Future Prospects
Despite these optimistic player figures, NetEase reported a slight decrease in gross profit for the quarter, recording RMB 16.3 billion (approximately US$2.2 billion), down from RMB 16.8 billion (US$2.3 billion) reported in Q4 of 2023. The company attributed this decline mainly to decreased revenues from mobile games, but noted that this downturn was partially countered by increased revenues from PC games, including Marvel Rivals. This shift indicates a noteworthy trend in player preferences and potential future growth for PC platforms.
