Marvel Rivals, since its unveiling, has drawn inevitable comparisons to Overwatch. Superficially, the similarities are striking: both are competitive multiplayer hero shooters, with Marvel Rivals utilizing Marvel characters in a gameplay structure remarkably akin to Overwatch's mechanics. Both are free-to-play, live-service titles relying on new character additions to maintain player engagement.
Marvel Rivals' explosive popularity since its December launch has fueled speculation about a corresponding decline in Overwatch 2's player base. The prevailing narrative suggests NetEase's title is actively drawing players away from Blizzard's offering.
In a recent GamesRadar interview, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller addressed this new competitive landscape, acknowledging the unprecedented challenge posed by a game so similar to their own.
Overwatch 2's Response
4 Images
Keller described the situation as "exciting," even praising Marvel Rivals for taking established Overwatch concepts in "a different direction." However, he also admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has compelled Blizzard to adopt a bolder approach with Overwatch 2, declaring, "this is no longer about playing it safe."
This shift in strategy will manifest in significant changes to Overwatch 2 in 2025. While the planned roadmap includes anticipated new content, the core gameplay will undergo a substantial overhaul, introducing hero perks and the return of loot boxes.
The success of these changes in revitalizing Overwatch 2 remains to be seen. Almost nine years after the original Overwatch's debut and two and a half years since Overwatch 2's launch, concurrent player numbers on Steam are at their lowest point since its release in 2023, peaking at 37,046 in the last 24 hours. In contrast, Marvel Rivals maintains its position as a top 10 Steam game, with a concurrent player peak of 310,287 over the same period.
Overwatch 2 continues to hold a "mostly negative" user review rating on Steam, a consequence of controversies surrounding its monetization and the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode.
IGN offers further coverage of Marvel Rivals, including developer commentary on datamining and the potential for a Nintendo Switch 2 release.
