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 reliant on new character releases to maintain player engagement.
Marvel Rivals' explosive December launch has fueled speculation about a corresponding decline in Overwatch 2's popularity. The prevailing narrative suggests NetEase's title is siphoning players away from Blizzard's offering.
In a GamesRadar interview, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged this new competitive landscape, unprecedented in Overwatch's history, due to Marvel Rivals' significant player base.
Overwatch 2's Response
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Keller described the situation as "exciting," praising Marvel Rivals' innovative take on Overwatch's established concepts. However, he also conceded that Marvel Rivals' success has compelled Blizzard to abandon a "playing it safe" approach with Overwatch 2.
Consequently, Blizzard announced sweeping changes for Overwatch 2 in 2025. While the roadmap includes expected new content, core gameplay will undergo a significant 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 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, 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.
### Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
Overwatch 2's Steam reviews remain "mostly negative," 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 in 2022. Further controversies, including the cancellation of the anticipated PvE Hero mode, fueled negative player sentiment.
IGN offers further coverage of Marvel Rivals, including developer statements on datamining and the potential for a Nintendo Switch 2 version.
