Marvel Rivals Soars as Overwatch 2 Steam Player Count Fall

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.

A Direct Comparison

Overwatch 2 experienced its lowest-ever Steam player count concurrently with Marvel Rivals' release on December 5th. On December 6th, Overwatch 2's player count dipped to 17,591, further declining to 16,919 by December 9th. In stark contrast, Marvel Rivals boasted 184,633 players on December 6th and 202,077 on December 9th. Marvel Rivals' all-time peak of 480,990 players significantly overshadows Overwatch 2's 75,608 peak. The games' similar free-to-play, team-based PVP mechanics have fueled comparisons, impacting Overwatch 2's Steam reviews negatively. While Marvel Rivals enjoys a "Mostly Positive" rating, Overwatch 2's rating is "Mixed," influenced by criticism from both Marvel Rivals fans and dissatisfied Overwatch 2 players.

Steam Represents a Small Portion of Overwatch 2's Player Base

It's crucial to remember that Steam constitutes only a fraction of Overwatch 2's total player base. Available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Battle.net, many players utilize Battle.net, especially considering the Steam port arrived in 2023, a year after its Battle.net launch. Cross-platform play also necessitates a Battle.net account.

Despite the Steam decline, Overwatch 2 recently launched Season 14, featuring a new hero (Hazard), a new limited-time mode, and the Winter Wonderland event.

Both titles are free-to-play on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Overwatch 2 additionally supports PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.