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. Shared mechanics and gameplay systems further reinforce this resemblance. 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 a shift in Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2, declaring, "this is no longer about playing it safe."

Consequently, Blizzard has announced significant changes for Overwatch 2 in 2025. While the roadmap includes expected new content, 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. Nearly nine years after the original Overwatch's debut and two and a half years since Overwatch 2's launch, while Blizzard doesn't release player numbers, Steam's concurrent player count reveals an all-time low since its 2023 launch, peaking at 37,046 in the last 24 hours.

In contrast, Marvel Rivals maintains its position as a top 10 Steam game, boasting a 24-hour peak of 310,287 concurrent players.

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

Overwatch 2 continues to hold a "mostly negative" user review rating on Steam, having even achieved the dubious distinction of being Steam's worst-reviewed game in August 2023. Criticism largely centers on monetization practices following the controversial transition from a premium model to a free-to-play sequel, rendering the original Overwatch unplayable. Further controversies, including the cancellation of the anticipated PvE Hero mode, have fueled negative sentiment.

IGN offers further coverage of Marvel Rivals, including developer statements on datamining and the potential for a Nintendo Switch 2 version.