Marvel Rivals' meteoric rise has undeniably shaken up the competitive hero shooter landscape, forcing Overwatch 2 to adapt or risk further decline. Since its December launch, Rivals' popularity has surged, drawing comparisons – and arguably players – from Blizzard's established title. The similarities between the two games are striking: both are free-to-play, live-service models featuring competitive multiplayer gameplay with a roster of unique characters. However, Rivals' success, evidenced by its consistently high player count on Steam (peaking at 310,287 concurrent players in the last 24 hours), stands in stark contrast to Overwatch 2's significantly lower numbers (a peak of 37,046 concurrent players).
In response to this new competitive reality, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged the impact of Marvel Rivals in an interview with GamesRadar. While initially expressing excitement about Rivals' innovative take on established mechanics, Keller admitted that the situation has prompted a shift in Blizzard's strategy for Overwatch 2. The days of playing it safe are over.
Overwatch 2's Planned Changes
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To revitalize Overwatch 2, Blizzard is implementing substantial changes for 2025, including a major overhaul of core gameplay mechanics. This will involve the introduction of hero perks and the controversial return of loot boxes – a move that will likely be met with mixed reactions from the community.
The future of Overwatch 2 remains uncertain. Nearly nine years after the original Overwatch's debut, and two and a half years since Overwatch 2's launch, the game continues to grapple with a mostly negative user review rating on Steam, largely stemming from monetization controversies and the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode. The success of Marvel Rivals adds further pressure on Blizzard to deliver significant improvements.
Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals maintains its position as a top-performing title on Steam, highlighting the shifting dynamics within the competitive hero shooter genre. Further information on Marvel Rivals, including developer insights and potential future platforms, can be found on IGN.
### Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes
