Marvel Rivals developer "NetEase" has recently opened up their hands towards Overwatch 2 and Blizzard, claiming that they never intended on killing Overwatch 2.
Marvel Rivals is simply THE game that everyone is playing right now... without a doubt. It's the number one hero shooter in the steam charts and due to their similarities, it is often perceived as "Overwatch 2's killer." Rivals has taken a lot of inspiration from Overwatch 2, that is not even a question. But what they also did, is that they fixed everything that was bugging Overwatch players for years, and just made a game that feels more polished, fresher and more relevant than ever.
After Overwatch 2 launched, Blizzard struggled with finding the right path for Overwatch's future. There was a lot of confusion about the planned PvE mode, monetization methods and more. As a result, players greeted the release of Marvel Rivals with open arms and an open heart. And it showed in the numbers, since Overwatch reached an all-time low player count on steam right after Marvel Rivals got released.
NetEase On Marvel Rivals Killing Overwatch 2
NetEase has made it clear that they have no intention of killing Overwatch 2. During an earnings call, the company emphasized that both Marvel Rivals and Overwatch can coexist in the market. Comparing Overwatch to major Blizzard titles like World of Warcraft and Hearthstone, NetEase stated that their goal is to "revitalize the product and reach new highs," rather than replace it. They acknowledged that both games fall into the superhero shooter genre but believe the market is big enough for both to thrive, reassuring fans that Overwatch 2 isn't being pushed aside.
While it's good to hear that they don’t want to replace Overwatch 2, the reality is that competition can still have unintended consequences. If Marvel Rivals turns out to be a stronger, better-supported game, players could naturally migrate away from Overwatch 2, even if that’s not NetEase’s direct intention.
But after Marvel Rivals released, Blizzard didn't just stand there and watch their game suffocate. In fact, Overwatch has recently received a BUNCH of new content updates, such as a perk system that they had been hinting towards for a long time, new heroes, maps, etc.
Visibly, a lot of players have returned to the OG hero shooter recently, so hopes are up that NetEase might be right, and there IS enough room for two sheriffs in town.