From the moment Marvel Rivals was unveiled, comparisons to Overwatch were inevitable. At first glance, Marvel Rivals shares striking similarities with Blizzard's game. It utilizes Marvel heroes and villains as playable characters, yet it remains a competitive multiplayer hero shooter with mechanics and gameplay systems that echo those of Overwatch. Both Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 are free-to-play, supported by live service monetization, and rely on the regular introduction of new characters to keep the experience fresh and engaging.
Since its launch in December, Marvel Rivals has seen a meteoric rise in popularity, with speculation suggesting this surge has come at the expense of Overwatch 2's player base. The narrative suggests that Blizzard's title is experiencing a decline as NetEase's Marvel Rivals captures the attention of players.
In a recent conversation with GamesRadar, Aaron Keller, the director of Overwatch 2, addressed the new competitive landscape Blizzard faces now that Marvel Rivals is drawing in tens of millions of players.
Overwatch 2 Perks
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Keller acknowledged the unique challenge Overwatch now faces, stating, "We're obviously in a new competitive landscape that I think, for Overwatch, we've never really been in before, to this extent where there's another game that's so similar to the one that we've created." Surprisingly, Keller described this situation as "exciting" and praised Marvel Rivals for taking Overwatch's established ideas in "a different direction."
Nevertheless, Keller admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has necessitated a shift in Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2, emphasizing that "this is no longer about playing it safe."
In response, Blizzard has announced significant changes slated for Overwatch 2 in 2025. Alongside the expected new content, the core gameplay will undergo substantial transformation, including the introduction of hero perks and the return of loot boxes.
The gaming community is eagerly watching to see if these changes can reignite interest in Overwatch 2. It's been nearly nine years since Overwatch debuted in 2016 and two-and-a-half years since the launch of Overwatch 2. Although Blizzard keeps Overwatch player numbers private, Steam data shows that Overwatch 2's concurrent player peak over the last 24 hours is a mere 37,046, marking its lowest since its launch on the platform in 2023.
In contrast, Marvel Rivals maintains its position among the top 10 most-played games on Steam, boasting a 310,287 concurrent player peak in the same period.
Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
Overwatch 2 continues to receive a 'mostly negative' user review rating on Steam. In August 2023, it even became the most negatively reviewed game on the platform, primarily due to backlash against its monetization practices. Blizzard faced heavy criticism for transforming its premium predecessor into a free-to-play sequel, which made the original Overwatch unplayable in 2022. Overwatch 2 has since been embroiled in several controversies, including the cancellation of its long-awaited PvE Hero mode, which many players believed justified the sequel's existence.
For more insights into Marvel Rivals, including the developer's stance on datamining and discussions about a potential Nintendo Switch 2 version, check out IGN's coverage.
