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
The release of Marvel Rivals, a competing team-based shooter, coincided with Overwatch 2 hitting its all-time low player count on Steam. 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 184,633 players on December 6th and 202,077 on December 9th. The peak concurrent player count disparity is even more dramatic: Marvel Rivals reached 480,990, significantly exceeding Overwatch 2's 75,608 peak. The similar free-to-play, team-based PVP gameplay mechanics of both games have fueled comparisons, impacting Overwatch 2's reception. Negative Steam reviews, from both Marvel Rivals fans and dissatisfied Overwatch 2 players, contributed to Overwatch 2's "Mixed" overall review rating, unlike Marvel Rivals' "Mostly Positive" rating.
Steam: A Small Piece of the Puzzle
It's crucial to remember that Steam represents only a fraction of Overwatch 2's total player base. Available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Blizzard's Battle.net, the game's player count across all platforms is significantly higher. Reddit discussions suggest a substantial portion of the player base resides on Battle.net, especially considering the Steam version's 2023 release, a year after its Battle.net Early Access launch. Cross-platform play also necessitates a Battle.net account.
Despite the Steam numbers, Overwatch 2 launched Season 14, featuring new content such as the Scottish tank hero, Hazard, a new limited-time mode, and the 2024 Winter Wonderland event.
Both Overwatch 2 and Marvel Rivals 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.
