Marvel Rivals, NetEase’s stab at a hero shooter starring Marvel’s iconic heroes, is doing exceptionally effectively a month after launch. It’s collected over 20 million gamers throughout PC, PS5, and Xbox Collection X/S, and its second season starring the Improbable 4 is off to a robust begin. The studio has plans to launch new heroes each six weeks, has already put out some unbelievable skins, and is constantly integrating lore to maintain the story progressing as all of us push payloads and seize factors. That is taking place in stark distinction to Overwatch 2, which has seen regular decline even earlier than the sequel launched with out most of its promised options. As Marvel Rivals’ momentum grows, followers of Overwatch 2 are of their emotions about abandoning what was as soon as the largest sport on the earth.
As a years-long Overwatch fan, I really feel the identical approach. Overwatch 2 entered its 14th season in December, and I’ve barely touched it. I loved what little time I spent with the brand new tank hero Hazard, however an entire new hero shooter that felt contemporary was a couple of button presses away on my PlayStation 5. My mates are taking part in Marvel Rivals usually and are excited to take action, quite than requiring the weeks or months of my begging to have them begrudgingly play Overwatch for an hour. This may most likely be the primary time I don’t end a battle cross in Overwatch 2’s lifetime. However I can’t lie, I miss Overwatch’s heroes. Soldier: 76, Lifeweaver, and Sombra are nonetheless a few of my favourite online game mains I’ve ever used, and I’m mourning the story mode that seemingly by no means can be.
Transferring on to Marvel Rivals looks like an inevitability for a lot of followers. Overwatch 2 has suffered after layoffs at Blizzard courtesy of Xbox noticed the sport recycling previous content material, and a graveyard of modes that had been canned or by no means noticed the sunshine of day. Within the face of Marvel Rivals’ success, Overwatch 2’s choices really feel much more paltry, and followers have taken discover.
The shift is palpable. Whereas we will’t see concurrent gamers throughout all platforms, there are indicators that Marvel Rivals is eclipsing Overwatch 2’s viewers, such because the stark hole between the 2 in streaming numbers.
Overwatch 2 has work to do if it desires to reclaim this floor. Proper now, Blizzard is testing a 6v6 format akin to the unique sport, which has some followers interested by a return to the sequence’ roots. However there’s nonetheless a good bit of stink on Overwatch 2 after Blizzard didn’t ship the sport it introduced in 2019. And not using a sense of ahead momentum, Overwatch 2 feels stagnant, and lackluster skins and cosmetics aren’t sufficient to overhaul Marvel Rivals. This has resulted in a whole lot of Overwatch followers in a bizarre limbo of not desirous to say goodbye however not having a lot motive to return. Nonetheless, I can’t assist however have a look at the Soldier: 76 statue on my shelf and really feel like I’m grieving a long-time relationship.
Regardless of all my points with Overwatch 2, on a strictly mechanical stage I believe it’s most likely the higher sport. Heroes are extra balanced, the map design is extra constant, and as divisive because it could be, I really like having Position Queue in Overwatch 2, which means I can assure there can be healers on my staff. However that damaged chaos has additionally been what has made Marvel Rivals really feel contemporary. If Overwatch 2’s future doesn’t embrace the promised PvE modes, I don’t know what the sport’s future seems like. Hopefully, now that Marvel Rivals is respiratory down its neck, Blizzard may have a promising replace within the coming months.
