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* drew immediate comparisons to *Overwatch*. Superficially, the resemblance is striking: both are competitive multiplayer hero shooters, featuring distinct characters with unique abilities. *Marvel Rivals*, however, utilizes Marvel's iconic roster of heroes and villains. Both games share a free-to-play model, sustained by live service updates and the introduction of new characters. Since its December launch, *Marvel Rivals* has seen a surge in popularity, prompting speculation about a potential shift in player interest away from *Overwatch 2*.

In a recent interview with GamesRadar, *Overwatch 2* director Aaron Keller addressed this new competitive landscape, acknowledging the significant similarity between the two games and the considerable player base *Marvel Rivals* has attracted. He surprisingly described the situation as "exciting" and praised *Marvel Rivals* for taking established *Overwatch* concepts in "a different direction."

Overwatch 2 Perks

Keller admitted that *Marvel Rivals’* success has prompted a significant shift in Blizzard's approach to *Overwatch 2*, declaring that "this is no longer about playing it safe." This has led to the announcement of sweeping changes for *Overwatch 2* in 2025, including a substantial overhaul of core gameplay mechanics, the introduction of hero perks, and the return of loot boxes, alongside the expected new content additions.

The success of these changes remains to be seen. Nearly nine years after the original *Overwatch* debuted and two and a half years after *Overwatch 2’s* launch, while Blizzard doesn't release player numbers, Steam concurrent player counts for *Overwatch 2* are at an all-time low since its 2023 launch, peaking at 37,046 in the last 24 hours. In contrast, *Marvel Rivals* remains 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, having even become the worst user-reviewed game on the platform in August 2023. Much of the negative feedback 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, have also contributed to the negative reception.

For more on *Marvel Rivals*, including developer insights and potential future platforms, check out IGN.