Marvel Rivals Soars as Overwatch 2 Steam Player Count Fall

Overwatch 2's Steam player count plummets following Marvel Rivals' successful launch. The impact of Marvel Rivals on Overwatch 2's Steam performance is analyzed.

A Direct Comparison

Overwatch 2 experienced its lowest-ever Steam player count concurrently with Marvel Rivals' release on December 5th, 2023. On December 6th, Overwatch 2's player count dipped to 17,591, further decreasing to 16,919 by December 9th. In stark contrast, Marvel Rivals boasted 184,633 players on December 6th and 202,077 on December 9th. The disparity is even more pronounced when comparing all-time peaks: Marvel Rivals reached 480,990 concurrent players, significantly exceeding Overwatch 2's 75,608 peak. Both games share a similar free-to-play, team-based PVP shooter structure, leading to inevitable comparisons. Overwatch 2's Steam reviews are currently "Mixed," while Marvel Rivals enjoys a "Mostly Positive" rating, despite some balance concerns.

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. Available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Blizzard's Battle.net, Overwatch 2's player count on other platforms likely offsets the Steam decline. Reddit discussions suggest many players migrated to Battle.net, as the Steam version launched in 2023, a year after its Battle.net Early Access release. Cross-platform play also necessitates a Battle.net account.

Overwatch 2's Ongoing Content Updates

Overwatch 2 recently launched Season 14, featuring new content including the Scottish tank hero, Hazard, a new limited-time mode, and the 2024 Winter Wonderland event.

Platform Availability

Both games are free-to-play on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Overwatch 2 is additionally available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.