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. Furthermore, both are free-to-play, live-service titles relying on new character releases 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 Marvel Rivals is actively drawing players away from Blizzard's title.
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 admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has prompted a significant shift in Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2, declaring, "this is no longer about playing it safe."
Consequently, Blizzard announced sweeping 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 remains to be seen. Nearly nine years after Overwatch's 2016 debut and two and a half years since Overwatch 2's launch, Blizzard doesn't publicly release player numbers. However, Steam concurrent player counts for Overwatch 2 are at an all-time low since its 2023 release on the platform, peaking at 37,046 in the last 24 hours. In contrast, Marvel Rivals maintains a top 10 Steam position, with a 24-hour peak of 310,287 concurrent players.
Overwatch 2 currently holds a "mostly negative" user review rating on Steam, reaching 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 included the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, a feature many considered crucial to the sequel's justification.
IGN offers further coverage of Marvel Rivals, including developer statements on datamining and the potential for a Nintendo Switch 2 version.
