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

Following Marvel Rivals' December 5th release, Overwatch 2 experienced its lowest ever Steam player count. On December 6th, the player count dropped to 17,591, further declining 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. The disparity is even more pronounced when considering all-time peaks: Marvel Rivals boasts a staggering 480,990 concurrent players, significantly exceeding Overwatch 2's 75,608 peak. Both games are free-to-play, team-based PVP shooters, leading to inevitable comparisons. However, Overwatch 2's Steam reviews are "Mixed," largely due to negative feedback from both Marvel Rivals players and dissatisfied Overwatch 2 players, while Marvel Rivals enjoys "Mostly Positive" reviews, despite some balance concerns.

Steam Represents Only a Portion of Overwatch 2's Players

It's crucial to remember that Steam represents 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 prefer 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, introducing a new hero (Hazard), a 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 supports PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.