From the moment it was unveiled, Marvel Rivals has been frequently compared to Overwatch due to their striking similarities. Both games are competitive multiplayer hero shooters, featuring free-to-play models and live service monetization strategies that rely on the introduction of new characters to keep the gameplay fresh. Marvel Rivals utilizes Marvel's iconic heroes and villains, much like how Overwatch employs its unique cast of characters.
Since its launch in December, Marvel Rivals has experienced explosive growth, reportedly at the expense of Overwatch 2's player base. According to the prevailing narrative, Blizzard's game is struggling to retain players as NetEase's Marvel Rivals attracts tens of millions of players.
In a recent interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged the new competitive landscape. "We're obviously in a new competitive landscape that I think, for Overwatch, we've never really been in before, to this extent where there's another game that's so similar to the one that we've created," Keller remarked. Surprisingly, he described the situation as "exciting," and praised Marvel Rivals for taking Overwatch's established ideas in a "different direction."
Keller admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has prompted a shift in Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2, stating, "this is no longer about playing it safe." As a result, Blizzard has unveiled significant changes planned for Overwatch 2 in 2025. These include a variety of expected new content and a major overhaul of the core gameplay, introducing hero perks and the return of loot boxes.
The gaming community is eagerly watching to see if these updates will reignite interest in Overwatch 2. It's been nearly nine years since the original Overwatch debuted in 2016, and over two-and-a-half years since Overwatch 2 launched. Although Blizzard keeps Overwatch player numbers private, concurrent player counts on Steam for Overwatch 2 have hit all-time lows since its launch on the platform in 2023, with a peak of 37,046 players over the last 24 hours. In contrast, Marvel Rivals remains among the top 10 most-played games on Steam, boasting a peak of 310,287 players in the same period.
Overwatch 2 currently holds a 'mostly negative' user review rating on Steam. The game became the worst user-reviewed title on the platform in August 2023, primarily due to dissatisfaction with its monetization model. Blizzard faced heavy criticism for converting the premium original Overwatch into a free-to-play sequel, effectively making the original game unplayable. Subsequent controversies, including the cancellation of the much-anticipated PvE Hero mode, further impacted Overwatch 2's reception.
For more on Marvel Rivals, including developer insights on datamining and potential plans for a Nintendo Switch 2 version, check out IGN's comprehensive coverage.
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