Overwatch 2's Steam player count plummets following Marvel Rivals' successful launch. The impact of Marvel Rivals on Overwatch 2's Steam performance is analyzed below.
A Direct Comparison
The release of Marvel Rivals on December 5th coincided with a significant drop in Overwatch 2's Steam player count. On December 6th, Overwatch 2 saw a record low of 17,591 concurrent players, further declining to 16,919 by December 9th. In stark contrast, Marvel Rivals boasted impressive numbers: 184,633 players on December 6th and 202,077 on December 9th. The disparity is even more pronounced when comparing all-time peaks: Marvel Rivals reached 480,990 concurrent players, significantly exceeding Overwatch 2's 75,608 peak. This head-to-head comparison highlights the success of Marvel Rivals and the concurrent downturn for Overwatch 2 on Steam. Both games share similar free-to-play, team-based PVP shooter mechanics, leading to inevitable comparisons. Negative Steam reviews for Overwatch 2, stemming from both Marvel Rivals fans and dissatisfied Overwatch 2 players, contributed to its "Mixed" overall rating, contrasting with Marvel Rivals' "Mostly Positive" reception, despite some balancing issues noted in reviews.
Steam Represents a Small Portion of Overwatch 2's Player Base
It's crucial to remember that Steam accounts for only a fraction of Overwatch 2's total player base. The game is also available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Blizzard's Battle.net. Reddit discussions suggest a significant portion of the player base resides on Battle.net, particularly due to the Steam version's later release in 2023 (a year after its Battle.net Early Access launch) and the requirement of a Battle.net account for cross-platform play on other platforms.
Despite the Steam player count decline, Overwatch 2 recently launched Season 14, featuring new content including the Scottish tank hero, Hazard, a new limited-time mode, and the 2024 Winter Wonderland event.
Both Overwatch 2 and Marvel Rivals are available for free on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Overwatch 2 is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
