Marvel Rivals Surges Amid Overwatch 2 Player Decline

Overwatch 2's Steam player count plummets following Marvel Rivals' successful launch. The impact of Marvel Rivals on Overwatch 2's player base is analyzed below.

A Direct Comparison

Overwatch 2 experienced its lowest-ever Steam player count following the December 5th release of Marvel Rivals. On December 6th, Overwatch 2's player count dipped to 17,591, further decreasing to 16,919 by December 9th. In stark contrast, Marvel Rivals boasted a substantial player base of 184,633 on December 6th and 202,077 on December 9th. The disparity is even more pronounced when considering peak player counts: Marvel Rivals reached 480,990, significantly exceeding Overwatch 2's peak of 75,608. Both games, being free-to-play team-based PVP shooters, have drawn comparisons, but Overwatch 2's Steam reviews are currently "Mixed," while Marvel Rivals enjoys "Mostly Positive" reviews.

Steam: A Small Piece of the Puzzle

It's crucial to remember that Steam represents only a portion of Overwatch 2's total player base. The game is also available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Blizzard's Battle.net. Reddit discussions suggest many players prefer Battle.net, especially considering the Steam version's 2023 release, a year after its Battle.net Early Access launch. Cross-platform play across all platforms requires a Battle.net account.

Despite the Steam numbers, Overwatch 2 recently launched Season 14, introducing a new tank hero (Hazard), a new limited-time mode, and the 2024 Winter Wonderland event.

Both Overwatch 2 and Marvel Rivals are available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Overwatch 2 is also playable on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.