Blizzard Acknowledges Overwatch 2 Rival as Marvel Rivals Booms

From the moment it was revealed, Marvel Rivals drew comparisons to Overwatch. On paper, the two games have a lot in common: in the same way that Overwatch is a competitive multiplayer hero shooter, Marvel Rivals is a competitive multiplayer hero shooter, though it just happens to have Marvel heroes and villains in it. Both of these games are free-to-play, live-service models that rely on replenishing the experience with new characters.

Blizzard Acknowledges Overwatch 2 Rivalry as Marvel Rivals Gains Popularity

Marvel Rivals has been surging in popularity since its December launch, and some have speculated that may have led to a dip in Overwatch 2 interest. Allegedly, tens of millions of players are flocking to the new contender, Marvel Rivals, currently pouncing on and sucking away players from Blizzard’s game.

In a new interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller opened up about the competition and the reality that the launch of Marvel Rivals has changed the competitive landscape for Overwatch. Keller called the development “exciting,” noting it was “great” to see someone take Overwatch’s ideas in a different direction with Marvel Rivals. However, he also acknowledged that the game’s success has forced Blizzard to reevaluate its strategy with Overwatch 2.

So, Blizzard has made everyone aware of these massive changes for Overwatch 2, which plans to arrive in 2025. The game will also go through major shifts to its gameplay, including the introduction of hero perks and the return of loot boxes, though new content certainly falls into the plan.

With Marvel Rivals continuing to dominate as one of the top 10 most-played games on Steam, and Overwatch 2 facing player declines and negative reviews, all eyes will be on Blizzard to see if these changes can bring a resurgence. Overwatch 2 remains the lowest-rated game on Steam, with many reviews criticizing its monetization and the cancellation of key features like the PvE Hero mode.

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