Marvel Rivals Surpasses Overwatch in Player Count, Launches New Season

Marvel Rivals, the third-person hero shooter game featuring Marvel superheroes and villains, has surged in popularity, surpassing Overwatch in player counts on Steam and other platforms. Released in December 2024, the game has consistently attracted 400,000 players nightly on Steam alone, while Overwatch struggles to maintain its player base.

Overwatch, a first-person hero shooter released by Blizzard in 2016, has seen a steady decline in player numbers, particularly since the launch of Marvel Rivals. In December, Overwatch hit a near-record low in peak player counts, despite releasing a new character in late November. Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals has climbed to the top 10 on the PlayStation and Xbox charts, with its official Discord server reaching over 2.2 million members, making it the largest gaming server on the platform.

On Friday, January 10, 2025, Marvel Rivals launched its first major update, Season 1: Eternal Night Falls. The update introduces new playable characters from the Fantastic Four, including Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic, with Human Torch and The Thing set to join later. Three new maps—Empire of Eternal Night in New York City, Sanctum Sanctorum, Midtown, and Central Park—have also been added, along with a new game mode called Doom Match.

In Doom Match, 8 to 12 players battle on a single map, with each player belonging to a different faction. Players earn points by defeating enemies, and the top 50% are declared winners. The season also includes the Midnight Features event, where players can complete seasonal activities to unlock limited-time rewards. Additionally, Marvel Rivals has partnered with Twitch to offer Twitch Drops, allowing players to earn rewards by watching streams of the game.

The Eternal Night Fall Battle Pass, available for 990 Lattice (approximately $9.99), offers 10 costumes, sprays, and emotes. While most of the new content is free, the Battle Pass provides additional customization options for players.

Marvel Rivals’ success has been attributed to its fresh take on the hero shooter genre, leveraging the beloved Marvel Universe. With Overwatch’s player base dwindling and Marvel Rivals continuing to innovate, the competition between the two games is intensifying. As NetEase, the developer of Marvel Rivals, pushes forward with new content, Blizzard faces increasing pressure to revitalize its flagship franchise.