Overwatch 2 Faces Fierce Marvel Rival

From its initial reveal, *Marvel Rivals* drew immediate comparisons to *Overwatch*. Superficially, the similarities are striking: both are competitive multiplayer hero shooters, utilizing distinct character rosters (Marvel heroes and villains versus *Overwatch*'s unique cast). Shared features include core mechanics and gameplay systems. Both are free-to-play live service titles, relying on new character additions to maintain player engagement.

Since its December launch, *Marvel Rivals* has experienced phenomenal success, sparking speculation about a potential shift in player interest away from *Overwatch 2*. The prevailing narrative suggests NetEase's *Marvel Rivals* is attracting a significant portion of Blizzard's player base.

In a recent interview with GamesRadar, *Overwatch 2* director Aaron Keller addressed this new competitive landscape, acknowledging the unprecedented challenge posed by a game so similar to their own creation. Surprisingly, Keller described the situation as "exciting," praising *Marvel Rivals* for taking established *Overwatch* concepts in "a different direction."

However, Keller also admitted that *Marvel Rivals*' success has prompted a significant shift in Blizzard's approach to *Overwatch 2*, declaring, "this is no longer about playing it safe."

Consequently, Blizzard has announced sweeping changes for *Overwatch 2* in 2025. While the roadmap includes anticipated new content, the core gameplay will undergo a major overhaul, incorporating 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 the original *Overwatch* debuted in 2016, and two and a half years since *Overwatch 2*'s launch, Blizzard hasn't disclosed player numbers. However, Steam concurrent player counts for *Overwatch 2* are at their lowest point since its 2023 release, peaking at 37,046 in the last 24 hours. In contrast, *Marvel Rivals* remains a top 10 Steam game, boasting a 24-hour peak of 310,287 concurrent players.

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

*Overwatch 2* currently holds a "mostly negative" user review rating on Steam. In August 2023, it even briefly held the title of the worst user-reviewed game on Steam. Much of the negative feedback centers on monetization practices following criticism over the transition from a premium title to a free-to-play sequel, rendering the original *Overwatch* unplayable in 2022. Further controversies, including the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode—a key feature cited by players as justifying the sequel—also contributed to the negative reception.

IGN offers further coverage on *Marvel Rivals*, including developer clarifications on datamining and speculation about a potential Nintendo Switch 2 version.