Marvel Rivals Soars as Overwatch 2 Steam Player Count Fall

Overwatch 2 Steam Player Count Plummets Following Marvel Rivals' Success

Overwatch 2 has experienced a significant drop in its Steam player count, coinciding with the highly successful launch of Marvel Rivals. This article explores the impact of Marvel Rivals on Overwatch 2's player base.

A Direct Competitor Emerges

Since Marvel Rivals' December 5th release, Overwatch 2 has seen its lowest-ever Steam player count. On December 6th, the player count dipped to 17,591, further declining to 16,919 by December 9th. This starkly contrasts with Marvel Rivals' impressive numbers: 184,633 players on December 6th and 202,077 on December 9th. The disparity is even more pronounced when considering peak concurrent players: Marvel Rivals boasts a staggering 480,990, dwarfing Overwatch 2's 75,608.

The games' similarities – free-to-play, team-based PVP shooters – have fueled comparisons since Marvel Rivals' debut. Negative Steam reviews, stemming from both Marvel Rivals fans and dissatisfied Overwatch 2 players, have contributed to Overwatch 2's "Mixed" overall rating, while Marvel Rivals enjoys a "Mostly Positive" reception, despite some noted balancing issues.

Steam Represents a Small Portion of Overwatch 2's Player Base

It's crucial to remember that Steam accounts for only a fraction of Overwatch 2's total player base. The game is also available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Blizzard's Battle.net. Reddit discussions suggest many players migrated to Battle.net, especially considering the Steam version's 2023 release – a year after its Battle.net Early Access launch. Furthermore, cross-platform play across all platforms requires a Battle.net account.

Despite the Steam player count decline, Overwatch 2 recently launched Season 14, featuring a new 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.