Esports powerhouse Sentinels announced that they are pausing operations in Marvel Rivals, even aiming a subtle critique of developer NetEase’s handling of the esport in their announcement. 

The decision marks the end of an eight-month run for the team, which had made waves in the game’s budding competitive scene, including victory at the Ignite 2025 Stage 1 Americas tournament, beating 100 Thieves 4-3 in a thrilling grand final that looked to set them up for a long period of success.

Top Marvel Rivals Team Leaves

Sentinels looked like a top team for much of their time in Marvel Rivals. However, an early exit in the Mid-Season Finals and the absence of a revenue-sharing model from NetEase appear to have taken their toll. This is despite the game launching a $3 million tournament circuit since its December 2024 release.

In their departure statement, Sentinels said that “If and when NetEase rolls out a program with team incentives, we would revisit the decision” to compete in Marvel Rivals.

Today we are announcing that we will be pausing our operations in Marvel Rivals

We couldn’t be prouder of what we accomplished in the last year. Together, we built something special, leaving our mark on the early history of the game. If and when NetEase roll out a program with… pic.twitter.com/9axKPQfNCK

— Sentinels Rivals (@SENRivals) November 3, 2025

Pressure Mounts on NetEase

Sentinels’ exit could push NetEase to accelerate plans for a team incentive program, especially as Ignite 2025 Finals are now finalized, with Virtus.pro crowned champions.

Sentinels missed out on the tournament, having finished 5-6th in Stage 2, where only the top four teams qualified. It would have been interesting to see whether Sentinels would’ve stuck around for much longer had they qualified for the tournament.

The developer has kept players engaged with balance patches and seasonal events, including more to come in the Marvel Rivals 2025 roadmap, but it is evident that in the eyes of some, esports backing is leaving something to be desired.

As Marvel Rivals’ unique team-up mechanics continue to attract players, the game’s competitive future hangs in the balance. For now, many organizations – including Sentinels – will be keeping their eyes out for future esports changes.