Marvel Rivals Beta's Stunning Success: Outperforming Concord by a Wide Margin

Marvel Rivals, NetEase Games' new hero shooter, has achieved remarkable success in its beta launch, significantly outpacing Sony and Firewalk Studios' Concord in player numbers.

A Striking Difference in Player Numbers

Within just two days of its beta release, Marvel Rivals boasted over 50,000 concurrent players on Steam, dwarfing Concord's peak of 2,388. This impressive figure reached 52,671 on July 25th. While the Steam count excludes PlayStation players, the disparity highlights the stark contrast in early reception.

Marvel Rivals' Rise and Concord's Struggle

Even after its closed and open beta phases, Concord continues to struggle, lagging behind many indie titles on Steam's most-wishlisted chart. This reflects the less-than-enthusiastic response to its beta. Conversely, Marvel Rivals enjoys a prominent position among top contenders like Dune: Awakening and Sid Meier's Civilization VII.

A key difference is the pricing model. Concord required a $40 pre-order for Early Access beta participation, with limited free access for PS Plus subscribers. In contrast, Marvel Rivals is free-to-play, offering broader accessibility via a simple Steam access request.

Brand Recognition and Market Saturation

Concord's struggles may stem from its lack of a recognizable IP in a crowded hero shooter market. While its "Overwatch meets Guardians of the Galaxy" aesthetic initially attracted attention, it failed to capture the charm of either franchise. While successful titles like Apex Legends and Valorant prove brand recognition isn't always crucial, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's performance (13,459 peak players) shows that a strong IP alone isn't a guarantee of success.

Although comparing Marvel Rivals (with its established IP) to Concord might seem unfair, both are hero shooters, highlighting the competitive landscape Concord faces.

The significant player count difference underscores the importance of factors like accessibility, brand recognition, and overall gameplay appeal in the competitive world of live-service hero shooters.