From its initial reveal, *Marvel Rivals* drew inevitable 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). Both share core mechanics and gameplay systems. Furthermore, both are free-to-play live service titles, relying on new character additions to maintain player engagement.

Since its December launch, *Marvel Rivals* has exploded in popularity, sparking speculation about a potential shift in player interest away from *Overwatch 2*. The prevailing narrative suggests *NetEase*'s title is actively drawing players from *Blizzard*'s offering.

In a recent interview with *GamesRadar*, *Overwatch 2* director Aaron Keller addressed this new competitive landscape, acknowledging the unprecedented challenge posed by *Marvel Rivals*'s success and its tens of millions of players.

Overwatch 2 Perks

"We're obviously in a new competitive landscape that I think, for *Overwatch*, we've never really been in before, to this extent where there's another game that's so similar to the one that we've created," Keller stated.

Surprisingly, Keller framed the situation positively, describing it as "exciting" and praising *Marvel Rivals* for taking established *Overwatch* concepts in "a different direction."

However, Keller also conceded that *Marvel Rivals*'s 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 expected new content additions, the core gameplay will undergo a dramatic overhaul, featuring the introduction of 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*'s 2016 debut and two and a half years since *Overwatch 2*'s launch, *Blizzard* doesn't publicly release player numbers. However, Steam concurrent player counts reveal an all-time low since the 2023 launch on the platform, peaking at 37,046 in the last 24 hours.

In contrast, *Marvel Rivals* maintains its position as a top 10 Steam game, boasting a 24-hour concurrent player peak of 310,287.

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 achieved the dubious distinction of being Steam's worst-reviewed game ever. Criticism largely centered on monetization practices following the controversial transition from a premium model to a free-to-play sequel in 2022, rendering the original *Overwatch* unplayable. Subsequent controversies, including the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode—a key feature cited by players as justifying the sequel's existence—further fueled negative sentiment.

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