From its unveiling, *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). Both share free-to-play models, live service updates, and rely on new character additions to maintain player engagement. Since its December launch, *Marvel Rivals* has exploded in popularity, leading to speculation about a potential shift in player interest away from *Overwatch 2*.
In a recent interview with GamesRadar, *Overwatch 2* director Aaron Keller acknowledged this new competitive landscape, stating that *Overwatch* hasn't faced such direct competition before. Interestingly, Keller described the situation as "exciting" and praised *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*, emphasizing a move away from "playing it safe."
Overwatch 2 Perks
Consequently, Blizzard announced sweeping changes for *Overwatch 2* in 2025. While the roadmap includes anticipated new content, the core gameplay will undergo a major overhaul, introducing hero perks and the return of loot boxes.
The success of these changes remains to be seen. Nearly nine years after the original *Overwatch*'s debut and two and a half years after *Overwatch 2*'s launch, concurrent player numbers on Steam are at their lowest point since its 2023 release, peaking at 37,046 in the last 24 hours. In contrast, *Marvel Rivals* maintains a top 10 position on Steam, with a concurrent player peak of 310,287 over the same period.
Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
*Overwatch 2* currently holds a "mostly negative" user review rating on Steam, a situation exacerbated by controversies surrounding its monetization and the cancellation of its highly anticipated PvE Hero mode. This cancellation, according to many players, undermined the very justification for the sequel's existence.
IGN offers further coverage of *Marvel Rivals*, including developer clarifications on datamining and potential plans for a Nintendo Switch 2 version.
