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

From its initial reveal, *Marvel Rivals* drew immediate comparisons to *Overwatch*. Superficially, the similarities are striking: both are competitive multiplayer hero shooters, featuring distinct characters with unique abilities. *Marvel Rivals* leverages the popularity of Marvel heroes and villains, while *Overwatch* boasts its own iconic roster. Both games operate on a free-to-play model, sustained by live service updates and the introduction of new characters to maintain player engagement.

Since its December launch, *Marvel Rivals* has experienced phenomenal success, sparking speculation about a potential decline in *Overwatch 2*’s player base. The prevailing narrative suggests *NetEase’s* title is attracting a significant portion of players previously engaged with *Blizzard’s* game.

In a recent interview with GamesRadar, *Overwatch 2* director Aaron Keller addressed this new competitive landscape, acknowledging the emergence of a very similar competitor in *Marvel Rivals*, a game attracting tens of millions of players.

Overwatch 2 Perks

Rather than viewing this as a threat, Keller described the situation as "exciting," praising *Marvel Rivals* for taking established *Overwatch* concepts in "a different direction." However, he 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."

This shift is reflected in the radical changes announced for *Overwatch 2* in 2025. While the roadmap includes expected new content, core gameplay will undergo a major overhaul, incorporating hero perks and the return of loot boxes.

The success of these changes remains to be seen. Nearly nine years after the original *Overwatch* debuted in 2016, and two and a half years since *Overwatch 2’s* launch, *Blizzard* doesn’t publicly release player numbers. However, Steam concurrent player counts reveal *Overwatch 2* is at its lowest point since its 2023 release on the platform, peaking at 37,046 concurrent players in the last 24 hours. In contrast, *Marvel Rivals* remains a top 10 Steam game, boasting a 310,287 concurrent player peak 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. In August 2023, it even achieved the dubious distinction of becoming Steam's worst-reviewed game ever. Much of the negative feedback centers on monetization practices, following criticism over the transition from a premium model to a free-to-play sequel, rendering the original *Overwatch* unplayable in 2022. Further controversies, including the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode—a feature many players considered crucial to the sequel’s justification—added to the negative reception.

For more on *Marvel Rivals*, including developer clarifications on datamining and the possibility of a Nintendo Switch 2 version, check out IGN.