Overwatch, Blizzard’s popular hero shooter, is facing an all-time low in player count on Steam, while Marvel Rivals, a new game that’s strikingly similar to Overwatch, continues to rise in popularity.
Marvel Rivals, which launched in December 2024, has quickly become a major success, attracting over 400,000 players nightly on Steam alone.
The game, featuring Marvel heroes and villains, has overtaken Overwatch in player numbers, and it’s also ranking highly on PlayStation and Xbox platforms. In contrast, Overwatch’s Steam numbers have been on a downward trend, with its December peak nearing a record low.
While Overwatch still boasts a large player base on Blizzard’s launcher, its struggles on Steam are a sign of a broader decline. Despite releasing a new character in late November 2024, Overwatch’s player count hasn’t picked up.
In fact, the game is now ranked 19th on Xbox, behind titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Ark: Survival Ascended, and Marvel Rivals is sitting comfortably at #8.
Marvel Rivals’ success is further amplified by its position in the top 10 most-played games on PS5, competing with established franchises. Meanwhile, Overwatch is nowhere to be found in the top 10.
While Marvel Rivals has not completely overshadowed Overwatch, it’s clear that the game, along with other competitors like Path of Exile 2, is posing serious competition to Blizzard’s franchises.
Marvel Rivals is about to launch its first full season, introducing four new characters from The Fantastic Four, while Overwatch continues its slow release of new content, with only one new character per season.
It’s evident that Marvel Rivals, developed by NetEase, is not slowing down and could continue to challenge Overwatch’s dominance in the hero shooter genre.
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