Overwatch 2 Sees Decline, Marvel Game Takes Flight

Marvel Rivals' meteoric rise coincides with a significant drop in Overwatch 2's Steam player count. This article explores the impact of these similar titles on each other's player bases.

Overwatch 2's Steam player numbers plummeted following the December 5th launch of Marvel Rivals. On December 6th, the count fell to 17,591, further decreasing to 16,919 by December 9th. This contrasts sharply with Marvel Rivals' impressive player counts of 184,633 and 202,077 on those same days, respectively. Marvel Rivals' all-time peak of 480,990 players dwarfs Overwatch 2's 75,608 peak.

Both games are free-to-play, team-based PVP shooters, leading to inevitable comparisons. Overwatch 2's Steam reviews have become overwhelmingly negative, impacting its overall rating. Conversely, Marvel Rivals boasts a mostly positive reception, despite some balancing concerns.

It's crucial to remember that Steam represents only a portion of Overwatch 2's total player base. Available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Battle.net, a significant player population likely resides on these other platforms. Many players transitioned to Battle.net after Overwatch 2's Steam port in 2023, a year after its Battle.net Early Access launch. Cross-platform play also necessitates a Battle.net account.

Overwatch 2 recently launched Season 14, featuring a new hero (Hazard), a limited-time mode, and the Winter Wonderland event.

Both titles are free-to-play on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Overwatch 2 is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.