Blizzard Welcomes Marvel Rivals as Close Competitor to Overwatch 2

From the moment Marvel Rivals was unveiled, comparisons to Overwatch were inevitable. At first glance, Marvel Rivals bears a striking resemblance to Blizzard's iconic game. Utilizing Marvel heroes and villains as its roster, Marvel Rivals, much like Overwatch, is a competitive multiplayer hero shooter that shares many mechanics and gameplay systems. Both games are free-to-play, operate as live services, and rely on the introduction of new characters to keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.

Since its launch in December, Marvel Rivals has seen an explosive surge in popularity, which some speculate has come at the expense of Overwatch 2's player base. The narrative suggests that Blizzard's game is experiencing a decline as NetEase's Marvel Rivals captures the attention of gamers worldwide.

In a recent interview with GamesRadar, Aaron Keller, the director of Overwatch 2, addressed the new competitive landscape Blizzard finds itself in, with Marvel Rivals attracting tens of millions of players. Keller described the situation as "exciting," and praised Marvel Rivals for taking ideas established by Overwatch in a "different direction."

Overwatch 2 Perks

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Despite the competitive pressure, Keller admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has prompted a shift in Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2. He emphasized that "this is no longer about playing it safe." In response, Blizzard has announced significant changes planned for Overwatch 2 in 2025. While the roadmap will include expected new content, the core gameplay will undergo a major overhaul, introducing hero perks and bringing back loot boxes.

The gaming community is eagerly watching to see if these changes will reignite interest in Overwatch 2. It's been nearly nine years since the original Overwatch debuted in 2016, and two-and-a-half years since Overwatch 2 launched. Although Blizzard does not disclose player numbers, concurrent player counts on Steam have hit historic lows since Overwatch 2's launch on the platform in 2023, with a peak of 37,046 players over the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals maintains its position as a top 10 most-played game on Steam, boasting a peak of 310,287 concurrent players over the last 24 hours.

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

Overwatch 2's user reviews on Steam remain 'mostly negative.' In August 2023, it even became the worst user-reviewed game on the platform, primarily due to backlash over its monetization model. Blizzard faced criticism for transitioning the premium Overwatch into a free-to-play sequel, making the original game unplayable in 2022. Overwatch 2 has also faced several controversies, including the cancellation of its highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, which many players believed justified the sequel's existence.

For more on Marvel Rivals, including developer insights on datamining and discussions about a potential Nintendo Switch 2 version, check out IGN's comprehensive coverage.