Blizzard Welcomes Marvel Rivals, Acknowledges Unique Competition in Overwatch 2

Ever since its reveal, Marvel Rivals has drawn inevitable comparisons to Overwatch. At first glance, the similarities are striking. Both games are competitive multiplayer hero shooters featuring unique characters—Marvel Rivals with its iconic Marvel heroes and villains, and Overwatch with its original cast. Both titles are free-to-play, operate on live service models, and rely on the introduction of new characters to keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.

Since its launch in December, Marvel Rivals has seen explosive growth in popularity, with some speculating that this surge has come at the expense of interest in Overwatch 2. According to the current narrative, Blizzard's game is experiencing a decline as NetEase's Marvel Rivals attracts a significant portion of its player base.

In a recent interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller addressed the new competitive landscape that Blizzard now faces with Marvel Rivals in the mix, drawing tens of millions of players. Keller described the situation as "exciting" and "really great," noting how Marvel Rivals has taken the concepts established by Overwatch and adapted them in a "different direction."

Overwatch 2 Perks

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Keller admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has prompted a shift in Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2, moving away from "playing it safe." In response, Blizzard has announced significant changes planned for Overwatch 2 in 2025. These changes will not only include the expected new content but also a major overhaul of the core gameplay, such as the introduction of 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's launch. Although Blizzard keeps player numbers under wraps, the concurrent player peak on Steam for Overwatch 2 over the last 24 hours was a modest 37,046, the lowest since its release on the platform in 2023.

Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals continues to thrive, maintaining its position in the top 10 most-played games on Steam with a peak of 310,287 players in the same period.

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

Overwatch 2's user reviews on Steam remain 'mostly negative,' a sentiment that peaked in August 2023 when it became the most negatively reviewed game on the platform. Much of the criticism centered around the game's monetization, particularly after Blizzard updated the original Overwatch into a free-to-play sequel in 2022, making the original unplayable. Overwatch 2 faced further backlash with the cancellation of its much-anticipated PvE Hero mode, which many players felt was the primary justification for the sequel.

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