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 are free-to-play, live-service titles, regularly updated with new characters to maintain player engagement.

Since its December launch, *Marvel Rivals* has exploded in popularity, sparking speculation about a potential impact on *Overwatch 2*'s player base. The prevailing narrative suggests *Marvel Rivals* is attracting a significant portion of *Overwatch 2*'s audience.

In a recent interview with GamesRadar, *Overwatch 2* director Aaron Keller acknowledged this new competitive landscape, stating, "We're obviously in a new competitive landscape that I think, for *Overwatch*, we've never really been in before, to this extent where there's another game that's so similar to the one that we've created."

Overwatch 2 Perks

Surprisingly, Keller expressed excitement about *Marvel Rivals*, praising its innovative approach to established *Overwatch* mechanics. He highlighted that *Marvel Rivals*' success has prompted a significant shift in Blizzard's strategy for *Overwatch 2*, declaring, "this is no longer about playing it safe."

Consequently, Blizzard announced sweeping changes for *Overwatch 2* in 2025. While the roadmap includes anticipated new content, the core gameplay will undergo a dramatic 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*'s debut and two and a half years since *Overwatch 2*'s launch, Steam concurrent player numbers for *Overwatch 2* are at an all-time low, peaking at 37,046 in the last 24 hours. In contrast, *Marvel Rivals* maintains its position as a top 10 Steam game, boasting a 24-hour peak of 310,287 concurrent players.

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes

*Overwatch 2* currently holds a "mostly 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 a free-to-play sequel, rendering the original *Overwatch* unplayable. Further controversies, including the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, further fueled negative player sentiment.

For more in-depth coverage of *Marvel Rivals*, including developer insights and speculation about a potential Nintendo Switch 2 version, visit IGN.