Home » Gaming » Is Marvel Rivals the Overwatch 2 Killer or Just Competition?

Is Marvel Rivals the Overwatch 2 Killer or Just Competition?

by Shida Aruya
0 comment

“Overwatch 2 is dead—killed by Marvel Rivals.” This is a phrase that has been circulating around the gaming community in recent months. Many players believe that Marvel Rivals has ended the era of Overwatch 2, taking the player base by storm. But is it true? Did Marvel Rivals really kill Overwatch 2? Is Overwatch 2 dead now? Let’s dig out the data and look deeper into the discussion!

Did Marvel Rivals Really Kill Overwatch 2?

Is Marvel Rivals the Overwatch 2 Killer?

The gaming community is currently in a heated debate, especially with the clash of hero shooter giants—Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2. Many players claim that Marvel Rivals has officially killed Overwatch 2, but is that really the case? If we look at the stats, Marvel Rivals has had 365,000 peak players, which is 14 times more than Overwatch 2 in the past 24 hours (at the time of writing). This is clear evidence that Marvel Rivals is dominating Overwatch 2 because numbers don’t lie.

However, does this mean that Marvel Rivals has truly killed Overwatch 2? Not necessarily. Many players have been calling Overwatch “dead” since 2017, yet the game is still running after eight years. While the player base has shrunk, the game is still alive. “If I had a penny for every time I heard Overwatch is dead since 2017, I’d be richer than Bill Gates. This game is like a heroine cockroach; you can’t kill it and you can’t get rid of it.” Said ShutIn, an Overwatch player, on Reddit.

Looking at Overwatch 2’s Steam player count data over the past year, the game has maintained relatively stable numbers between March 2024 and December 2024, averaging around 25,000 to 50,000 players. The graph below shows several key points:

  • Current players: 15,745
  • 24-hour peak: 25,609
  • All-time peak: 75,608 (1.5 years ago)

However, there’s a noticeable downward trend starting from December 2024 into February 2025, where player numbers have declined to around 15,000 to 25,000 players only. This decline comes even before Marvel Rivals’ release, supporting the argument that Overwatch 2’s challenges stem from internal factors rather than direct competition. This proves that Overwatch 2 has not been officially “killed.” Therefore, Marvel Rivals is not the reason for Overwatch 2’s decline. So, what or who is really responsible?

It All Depends on Blizzard Entertainment

Overwatch 2 is not dead, but it is struggling to survive due to its declining player base. However, this did not happen because of Marvel Rivals. It started even before the new superhero shooter was released on December 6th, 2024.

Overwatch declined because of two big mistakes. First, Blizzard focused too much on pro players, making changes that frustrated most of the community. Second, Overwatch 2 didn’t deliver on its promises, such as:

Many features from the original game were removed, disappointing longtime fans. These issues, not Marvel Rivals, are what really hurt Overwatch’s player base.

So the real issue lies in Blizzard Entertainment’s way of handling the game. I think that it’s because of the lack of groundbreaking updates, controversial meta-shifts, and other game-changing decisions. It has led to a decline in player interest. If any game receives broken updates or lacks meaningful content for too long, it obviously risks losing its audience, just as Marvel Rivals could if it follows the same mistakes.

Marvel Rivals vs. Overwatch 2: A Healthy Competition

Rather than calling Marvel Rivals an Overwatch 2 killer, it’s more accurate to say that the two games are in healthy competition. This happens in every genre. For example, FPS games like Valorant, Rainbow Six Siege, and Counter-Strike 2 all compete for player bases, but they don’t kill each other.

“I just remember when it originally came out and was considered a TF2 killer. Now look at them both. Just because the player size has plateaued does not mean it’s dead. MR is not an OW killer. OW is not a TF2 killer.” Said a player on Reddit, which is logical and true.

What’s important is that Overwatch 2 needs to adapt to the competition. The game won’t lose its dedicated fanbase as long as Blizzard continues to release engaging and meaningful updates. However, it must stay true to its original identity. I am sure that the game’s dedicated fanbase will stay as long as Blizzard delivers meaningful updates without chasing trends.

On the other hand, Marvel Rivals is thriving because it stays faithful to Marvel’s lore and history. The sheer number of heroes and villains available for future updates makes it a serious competitor for Overwatch 2. “They have so much lore and so many heroes and villains and anti-heroes that they have enough for updates for the next ten years.” Said Ninja, a popular Twitch streamer predicting the future of the game.

Marvel Rivals has a huge roster. Each character also has unique abilities that can lead to fresh gameplay. With so much source material, the game can keep players engaged with new content and updates. However, it’s no secret that as a new game, Marvel Rivals also still suffers from janky movement, bugs, errors, and balance issues.

Also Read:

So from all the data above and comments from the community, I think both games can succeed together. Overwatch 2’s decline started before Marvel Rivals, and fixing those core issues matters more than fighting competition. Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals needs to solve its technical problems to reach its full potential.

Success for both games depends on one thing: how well the developers handle the situation by listening to and serving their players. Will they strengthen their game and satisfy the player base, or will they ignore major issues and potentially ruin their own game? One thing is certain—Marvel Rivals is not the Overwatch 2 killer because the gaming community is big enough for both to thrive.

You may also like