A fresh report has revealed an intriguing shift in the gaming landscape: almost half of Overwatch 2 players who stopped playing in December 2024 made the switch to Marvel Rivals. This news doesn’t completely catch the gaming community off-guard as there were suspicions that Marvel Rivals had been pulling players away from Blizzard’s popular hero shooter. Now, this report sheds light on the true scale of that migration.
Marvel Rivals stirred up quite the buzz leading up to its December 2024 debut, and for good reason. As another team-based hero shooter, comparisons to Overwatch 2 were inevitable. Yet, NetEase crafted a distinct identity for Marvel Rivals by tapping into the immense popularity of the Marvel universe, offering renditions of beloved comic characters that fans couldn’t resist. This strategic move paid off, with the game outperforming expectations and drawing in massive player numbers on platforms like Steam.
According to Insider Gaming, a detailed industry report from NewZoo has delved into the meteoric rise of Marvel Rivals and its impact on Overwatch 2. The findings are quite telling: around 45% of those who stopped playing Overwatch 2 in December 2024 turned their attention to Marvel Rivals. This influx was a significant factor in the game’s remarkable launch success. The data highlights that Marvel Rivals ranked as the eighth most-played game on Steam in 2024 and nabbed the position of the third most-played release of the year, trailing only behind Helldivers 2 and Palworld—titles that had a head start on accumulating playtime due to their earlier release dates.
The success story of Marvel Rivals contrasts sharply with the challenges faced by Overwatch 2, as captured by NewZoo’s report. In 2024, Overwatch 2 saw an 8% drop in its free-to-play playtime contribution. The release of the Overwatch Classic event only managed to sustain player interest temporarily. In fact, a notable 26% drop in player engagement was recorded shortly after, coinciding with the launch of Marvel Rivals just a few days after the Overwatch event concluded.
Looking forward to 2025, the journey of Marvel Rivals will be one to watch. Despite launching late in the year, the game significantly contributed to the rise of free-to-play gaming in 2024. But to maintain its momentum and player interest, Marvel Rivals must continue to innovate. NetEase seems prepared for the challenge with the upcoming Season 2, promising more frequent hero releases. Only time will reveal if these strategies keep Marvel Rivals among the top games throughout the year.
