Overwatch 2 Dev Blizzard Welcomes Marvel Rivals Competition, Says It’s Never Faced Another Game ‘So Similar to the One We've Created’

Marvel Rivals: A Challenger Emerges, Forcing Overwatch 2 to Adapt

Since its release, Marvel Rivals has drawn considerable comparisons to Overwatch, and rightfully so. Both are competitive multiplayer hero shooters with strikingly similar mechanics and gameplay. Both are free-to-play, live-service titles that rely on new character additions to maintain player engagement. However, the similarities have led to a fascinating dynamic in the gaming world.

Marvel Rivals' explosive popularity since its December launch has seemingly impacted Overwatch 2's player base. While precise numbers remain undisclosed by Blizzard, Steam concurrent player counts paint a clear picture: Overwatch 2 is at its lowest point since its 2023 Steam launch, peaking at 37,046 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, while Marvel Rivals boasts a significantly higher peak of 310,287 concurrent players during the same period, placing it firmly within Steam's top 10 most-played games.

In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged this new competitive landscape, describing the situation as "exciting" and praising Marvel Rivals for taking established Overwatch concepts in "a different direction." However, he also admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has compelled Blizzard to abandon a "playing it safe" approach with Overwatch 2.

This shift in strategy has resulted in ambitious changes planned for Overwatch 2 in 2025. While the roadmap includes expected new content, significant gameplay alterations are on the horizon, including the introduction of hero perks and the controversial return of loot boxes.

The success of these changes remains to be seen. Overwatch 2's Steam reviews remain overwhelmingly negative, largely due to past controversies surrounding monetization and the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode. The game's future hinges on its ability to recapture player interest, nearly nine years after the original Overwatch's debut.

Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals continues to thrive, presenting a compelling alternative in the hero shooter genre. Further details on Marvel Rivals, including developer commentary on datamining and potential Nintendo Switch 2 release, can be found on IGN.