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, since its unveiling, has drawn inevitable comparisons to Overwatch. Superficially, the similarities are striking: both are competitive multiplayer hero shooters, with Marvel Rivals utilizing Marvel characters where Overwatch employs its own roster. Both share similar mechanics and gameplay. Crucially, both are free-to-play, live-service titles reliant on new character releases to maintain player engagement.

Marvel Rivals' explosive popularity since its December launch has fueled speculation about a corresponding decline in Overwatch 2's player base. The prevailing narrative suggests NetEase's Marvel Rivals is siphoning players away from Blizzard's title.

In a GamesRadar interview, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller addressed this new competitive landscape, acknowledging the unprecedented challenge posed by a game so similar to their own.

Overwatch 2's Response

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Keller described the situation as "exciting," praising Marvel Rivals for taking established Overwatch concepts in "a different direction." However, he conceded that Marvel Rivals' success has compelled a 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 anticipated new content, the core gameplay will undergo a significant overhaul, introducing hero perks and the return of loot boxes.

The success of these changes remains to be seen. Nearly nine years after Overwatch's 2016 debut and two and a half years since Overwatch 2's launch, Blizzard doesn't release player numbers, but Steam concurrent player counts for Overwatch 2 are at an all-time low since its 2023 launch on the platform (a 24-hour peak of 37,046). Conversely, Marvel Rivals maintains a top 10 Steam position, boasting a 24-hour peak of 310,287 concurrent players.

Overwatch 2 currently holds a "mostly negative" user review rating on Steam, reaching the dubious distinction of being Steam's worst-reviewed game in August 2023. Criticism largely centers on monetization practices following the controversial transition from a premium model to a free-to-play sequel, rendering the original Overwatch unplayable. Further controversies, including the cancellation of the anticipated PvE Hero mode, fueled negative player sentiment.

IGN offers further coverage of Marvel Rivals, including developer statements on datamining and the potential for a Nintendo Switch 2 release.