Overwatch 2's Steam player count plummets following Marvel Rivals' successful launch. The impact of Marvel Rivals on Overwatch 2's player base is analyzed.
A Direct Comparison
Following Marvel Rivals' December 5th release, Overwatch 2 experienced its lowest ever concurrent player count on Steam. On December 6th, the player count dropped to 17,591, further declining to 16,919 by December 9th. This starkly contrasts with Marvel Rivals' impressive concurrent player counts of 184,633 and 202,077 on the same dates. The disparity is even more pronounced when considering all-time peaks: Marvel Rivals boasts a staggering 480,990 players, significantly exceeding Overwatch 2's 75,608 peak. Both games share similar free-to-play, team-based PVP shooter mechanics, leading to inevitable comparisons. However, Overwatch 2's Steam reviews are "Mixed," while Marvel Rivals enjoys a "Mostly Positive" rating, despite some balance concerns.
Steam Represents a Small Portion of Overwatch 2's Total Players
It's crucial to remember that the Steam numbers only represent a fraction of Overwatch 2's total player base. The game is also available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Battle.net. Reddit discussions suggest a significant portion of the player base resides on Battle.net, especially considering the Steam version's 2023 release, a year after its Battle.net launch. Furthermore, cross-platform play requires a Battle.net account regardless of the primary platform.
Overwatch 2 recently launched Season 14, featuring new content including a Scottish tank hero (Hazard), a limited-time mode, and the 2024 Winter Wonderland event.
Both Overwatch 2 and Marvel Rivals are available for free on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Overwatch 2 additionally supports PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
