Marvel Rivals Soars as Overwatch 2 Steam Player Count Fall

Overwatch 2's Steam player count plummets following Marvel Rivals' successful launch. This article explores the impact of Marvel Rivals on Overwatch 2's player base, highlighting their similarities and contrasting reception.

A Direct Comparison

Overwatch 2 experienced its lowest ever Steam player count following the December 5th release of Marvel Rivals. On December 6th, Overwatch 2's player count dipped to 17,591, further decreasing to 16,919 by December 9th. This starkly contrasts with Marvel Rivals' impressive concurrent player counts of 184,633 and 202,077 on those same dates, respectively. The disparity is even more pronounced when considering all-time peaks: Marvel Rivals boasts a staggering 480,990 players, significantly outpacing Overwatch 2's 75,608. Both games are free-to-play, team-based PVP shooters, leading to inevitable comparisons. However, Overwatch 2 suffers from mixed Steam reviews, attributed to dissatisfaction among both Marvel Rivals fans and existing Overwatch 2 players, while Marvel Rivals enjoys mostly positive reviews despite some balancing concerns.

Steam Represents a Small Portion of Overwatch 2's Total Players

It's crucial to remember that Steam only represents a fraction of Overwatch 2's total player base. Available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Blizzard's Battle.net, the game's Steam version, released in 2023, is a relatively recent addition. Reddit discussions suggest many players prefer Battle.net, especially considering the cross-platform functionality requiring a Battle.net account.

Despite the Steam numbers, Overwatch 2 recently launched Season 14, introducing a new 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 also offers compatibility with PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.