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 solidify 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 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 compelled 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 anticipated new content, the 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. Almost nine years after the original Overwatch's debut and two and a half years after Overwatch 2's launch, Blizzard doesn't disclose player numbers. However, Steam concurrent player counts for Overwatch 2 are at an all-time low since its 2023 release, peaking at 37,046 in the last 24 hours.
In contrast, Marvel Rivals maintains its position as a top 10 Steam game, with a concurrent player peak of 310,287 over the same period.
### Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
Overwatch 2 currently holds a "mostly negative" user review rating on Steam, even achieving 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 in 2022. Further controversies, including the cancellation of the anticipated PvE Hero mode, a feature many considered crucial to the sequel's justification, have added to the negative sentiment.
IGN offers further coverage of Marvel Rivals, including developer statements on datamining and the potential for a Nintendo Switch 2 version.