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 unveiling, *Marvel Rivals* has drawn 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 free-to-play models, live service updates, and rely on new character additions to maintain player engagement. Since its December launch, *Marvel Rivals* has seen explosive growth, sparking speculation about a potential impact on *Overwatch 2*'s player base.

In a recent interview with GamesRadar, *Overwatch 2* director Aaron Keller acknowledged this new competitive landscape, stating that *Marvel Rivals*' success presents a unique challenge for *Overwatch*. While acknowledging the situation's novelty, Keller expressed excitement and praised *Marvel Rivals* for taking established *Overwatch* concepts in new directions. This success, however, has prompted a significant shift in Blizzard's approach to *Overwatch 2*, moving away from a strategy of "playing it safe."

Overwatch 2 Perks

As a result, Blizzard announced sweeping changes for *Overwatch 2* in 2025. While the roadmap includes expected new content, core gameplay will undergo a significant overhaul, including 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* launched (2016), and two and a half years since *Overwatch 2*, player numbers remain a closely guarded secret. However, Steam concurrent player counts reveal historically low numbers since its 2023 launch, peaking at 37,046 in the last 24 hours. In contrast, *Marvel Rivals* consistently ranks among Steam's top 10 most-played games, with a recent 24-hour peak of 310,287 concurrent players.

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

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

For more on *Marvel Rivals*, including developer insights on datamining and potential Nintendo Switch 2 release, check out IGN.