$139 Million Money Laundering Scandal Involving Marvel Rivals Developer NetEase, Explained
NetEase faces some internal strife in an unfortunate scandal that has Marvel Rivals fans concerned about the game's upcoming release.
- NetEase Games has fired 9 high-ranking individuals from its ranks as a result of its ongoing anti-corruption investigation into money laundering charges.
- Among those making an exit is an important name in the company's esports division that has fans worried about the future of Marvel Rivals.
- Although it is unlikely that the upcoming PvP shooter will be delayed, fans continue to speculate on what the recent scandal could mean for the Chinese company.
It’s a troubling time for NetEase Games, the Chinese company behind Marvel Rivals, an upcoming PvP hero shooter that brings an expansive roster of Marvel characters to the format in a title that is shaping up to be one of 2024’s biggest releases this December.
In a controversy that the studio may have preferred to avoid in the run-up to one of its most ambitious titles to date, a money laundering scandal of epic proportions has emerged as an obstacle to its journey to new heights that could see morale drop among its talented team while they work on bringing characters from the popular comic books and films to life on current-gen systems.
NetEase Finds a Few Rivals Within Its Own Ranks
Although NetEase must be commended for its commitment to transparency and accountability with local authorities in its second internal anti-corruption investigation since September 2023, the company will be worried about the effects of the currently ongoing investigation on the development of Marvel Rivals which promises to be a breath of fresh air for fans of PvP shooters and a direct competitor to Overwatch 2.
The investigation has revealed a scandal involving several NetEase employees including its general manager Xiang Lang and Jin Yuchen, whose esports expertise has largely contributed to the success of a closed beta that the company held for Marvel Rivals earlier this year. Seven other employees have been fired from the company according to an internal memo that was accompanied by reminders about the company’s compliance policies to its remaining workforce.
What Could This Mean for Marvel Rivals?
Fans of Marvel Rivals are understandably upset about the new development, worried that the money laundering scandal involving inflated purchase orders to as many as 28 suppliers to the tune of nearly $139 million could adversely affect the development of the game and perhaps even delay its release.
The tweet below and responses to it showcase just how eagerly fans have been waiting for Marvel Rivals with a variety of emotions emerging from the gaming community ranging from humor to sarcasm underlining their opinions.
One fan took a direct approach in expressing concern about potential delays to Marvel Rivals’ December 2024 release window, a delay which would certainly be a blow to NetEase after all of the meticulous marketing it has carried out for the upcoming title.
Another fan remains optimistic, noting that the impacted individuals were likely not a part of the core team working on Marvel Rivals at the time although the consideration of Yuchen’s expertise in esports titles could be a factor in the development and release of new characters to the game’s expansive roster.
Another response brings some much-needed humor to an otherwise grim situation for NetEase considering the impact that the loss of 9 of its employees in such a manner can have on the rest of its workforce.
Although Marvel Rivals is likely to remain on schedule to release in December this year, NetEase will want to ensure that its latest project does not get derailed on account of the scandal considering its past reputation with inflated prices on its in-game purchases that had more than a few players worried that the upcoming hero shooter might continue with a similar trend.
Furthermore, the studio may want to focus on improving its internal regulatory processes to ensure that it does not have to face a similar situation in the future considering its expanding presence in the gaming industry that has seen it acquire a number of studios while opening up one of its own in America with some well-known names from BioWare and Blizzard joining its ranks.
