Blizzard Welcomes Competition, Praising Marvel Snap Similarity

Marvel Rivals' meteoric rise has forced Overwatch 2 to adapt. Since its December launch, Marvel Rivals, a hero shooter strikingly similar to Overwatch 2, has garnered immense popularity, reportedly impacting Overwatch 2's player base. This competitive landscape, unprecedented for Overwatch, prompted a candid response from Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller.

Overwatch 2's Response

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Keller, in an interview with GamesRadar, acknowledged the competitive pressure but expressed excitement about Marvel Rivals' innovative take on established mechanics. He admitted Marvel Rivals' success has compelled Blizzard to abandon a "play-it-safe" strategy for Overwatch 2.

Consequently, Overwatch 2 will undergo significant changes in 2025. While new content is planned, core gameplay will be overhauled, introducing hero perks and the controversial return of loot boxes.

The impact of these changes remains to be seen. Overwatch 2's Steam concurrent player count is at a historic low, contrasting sharply with Marvel Rivals' consistently high player numbers on the same platform (37,046 vs 310,287 peak concurrent players in the last 24 hours, respectively). This, coupled with Overwatch 2's overwhelmingly negative Steam reviews (reaching the title of worst-reviewed game on Steam in August 2023, largely due to monetization controversies and the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode), highlights the challenges Blizzard faces.

Further information on Marvel Rivals, including developer commentary on data mining and potential Nintendo Switch 2 release, is available on IGN.