暴雪欢迎漫威对手，称从未遇到过“如此相似的游戏”

Marvel Rivals, since its unveiling, has drawn inevitable comparisons to Overwatch. Superficially, the similarities are striking: both are competitive multiplayer hero shooters, with Marvel Rivals substituting Marvel characters for Overwatch's roster. Both share similar mechanics and gameplay. Both are free-to-play, live-service titles relying on new character releases to maintain player engagement.

Marvel Rivals' explosive popularity since its December launch has fueled speculation about a corresponding decline in Overwatch 2's player base. The prevailing narrative suggests NetEase's Marvel Rivals is actively drawing players away from Blizzard's title.

In a recent GamesRadar interview, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller addressed this new competitive landscape, acknowledging the unprecedented challenge posed by a game so closely resembling Overwatch.

Overwatch 2's Response

4 Images

Keller described the situation as "exciting," praising Marvel Rivals for taking established Overwatch concepts in "a different direction." However, he also admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has compelled Blizzard to adopt a bolder approach to Overwatch 2, stating, "this is no longer about playing it safe."

This shift in strategy will manifest in significant changes to Overwatch 2 in 2025. While the planned roadmap includes expected new content, core gameplay will undergo a substantial overhaul, introducing hero perks and the return of loot boxes.

The success of these changes in revitalizing Overwatch 2 remains to be seen. Nearly nine years after the original Overwatch's debut and two and a half years since Overwatch 2's launch, Blizzard hasn't released official player numbers. However, Steam concurrent player counts for Overwatch 2 are at an all-time low since its 2023 release, peaking at 37,046 in the last 24 hours. In contrast, Marvel Rivals maintains a top 10 Steam position, with a concurrent player peak of 310,287 over the same period.

Overwatch 2 currently holds a "mostly negative" user review rating on Steam, having even achieved the dubious distinction of being Steam's worst-reviewed game in August 2023. Negative reviews largely center on monetization practices following the controversial transition from a premium model to a free-to-play sequel, rendering the original Overwatch unplayable. Further controversies, including the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, have fueled player dissatisfaction.

IGN offers further coverage of Marvel Rivals, including developer statements on datamining and the potential for a Nintendo Switch 2 release.