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 substituting Marvel characters for Overwatch's roster. Both share similar mechanics and gameplay. 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 siphoning 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
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Keller described the situation as "exciting," praising Marvel Rivals for taking established Overwatch concepts in "a different direction." However, he also conceded that Marvel Rivals' success has compelled Blizzard to abandon a "playing it safe" approach with Overwatch 2.
Consequently, Blizzard has announced significant changes for Overwatch 2 in 2025. While the roadmap includes expected new content, core gameplay will undergo a major 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 release and two and a half years after Overwatch 2's launch, Blizzard hasn't disclosed player numbers, but Steam concurrent player counts are at an all-time low since its 2023 launch, peaking at 37,046 in the last 24 hours.
In contrast, Marvel Rivals consistently ranks among Steam's top 10 most-played games, with a 24-hour peak of 310,287 concurrent players.
### Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
Overwatch 2 maintains a largely negative user review rating on Steam, reaching the dubious distinction of being the worst-reviewed game on the platform in August 2023. Criticism centers on monetization practices, particularly the controversial transition from a premium model to free-to-play, rendering the original Overwatch unplayable. Further controversies, including the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, fueled negative sentiment.
IGN offers further coverage of Marvel Rivals, including developer commentary on datamining and the potential for a Nintendo Switch 2 version.
