Nearly Half of Former Overwatch 2 Players Flock to Marvel Rivals, Report Finds

A significant portion of players who stopped playing Overwatch 2 in late 2024 appear to have found a new home in Marvel Rivals, according to a new report from gaming analytics firm NewZoo.

The report reveals that 45% of Overwatch 2 users who left the game in December transitioned to playing Marvel Rivals instead. The sharp decline in Overwatch 2 engagement coincided with the release of Marvel Rivals, despite Blizzard’s attempt to revive interest through the Overwatch: Classic event. While the event briefly boosted player activity by 12%, it was followed by a 26% drop, marking one of the steepest declines in the game’s active user base.

Marvel Rivals launched at the end of 2024 but quickly emerged as one of the most played games of the year. It claimed the eighth-highest share of total playtime on Steam and was the third most played new release of 2024, following Helldivers 2 and Palworld. Among free-to-play games launched in 2024 across Steam, PS5, and Xbox, Marvel Rivals remains the only title that hasn’t shut down or seen a 90%+ drop in monthly average users (MAUs).

The game also contributed significantly to the overall growth in free-to-play playtime last year. Only The First Descendant drove more playtime growth among new free-to-play titles in 2024. However, with Marvel Rivals posting stronger current player numbers on Steam, it may soon surpass its rival.

Although Marvel Rivals has seen a gradual decline in player numbers since its launch, interest may spike again as Season 2 is set to begin shortly. Whether the title can maintain momentum and finish 2025 as one of the year’s most played games remains to be seen.