Overwatch’s Decline has Given Marvel Rivals the Opportunity to Steal Its Title (That Concord Could Only Dream Of)

The upcoming game Marvel Rivals is NetEase Games’ attempt at breathing life into an evergreen (yet saturated) genre. The PvP game is being compared to the likes of Overwatch, and for good reasons.

Fans online have been thinking about leaving Blizzard Entertainment’s title for something more fulfilling, and Marvel Rivals is likely going to be the “better” option for them.

Marvel Rivals Will Soon Have a Playerbase That Has Left Overwatch

Overwatch fans, for the longest time, have wished for a game that’s bigger, better, and bolder. Over the years, this promise has been a personal project for Blizzard Entertainment. Unfortunately, this dream wasn’t truly actualized, and Overwatch 2 in its current state isn’t making the player base too happy.

With overwhelmingly negative reviews on Steam, the community is often vocal about their disappointment with the game. However, a bad era for Blizzard’s online shooter has opened up endless possibilities for NetEase’s upcoming title.

User Rotem4421 on Reddit shares a similar school of thought. The Overwatch player writes about how Marvel Rivals seems to be a true contender for a title that can essentially replace Blizzard’s PvP shooter.

I hope this game will take over Overwatch’s title
byu/Rotem4421 inmarvelrivals

Many players agree with this viewpoint, and Marvel Rivals’ recent beta testing proved that the game’s mechanics and uniqueness are being appreciated by players worldwide.

Interestingly, even a big title like Concord couldn’t match this kind of hype. It looks like the world of online team-based shooters is quickly becoming saturated, and only truly promising titles can survive the hype. Fortunately, this seems to be working in favor of NetEase Games.

The “Marvel” Tag May Become Marvel Rivals’ Biggest Selling Point

If you take a closer look at Marvel Rivals’ gameplay, you will see several similarities with titles that have tried to make a name for themselves in the past. However, Marvel fans know the value of a polished game that does justice to fictional characters, and that’s where the upcoming title stands out.

Each character has a unique set of abilities that synergize with those around them. Ideally, these personalities are true to their comic book variants and keep that flair alive in situations where they have to fight one another.

When you bring some of the most well-known characters in a comic franchise to an interactive world where their powers are actualized, you get a fan base that’s loyal and hyped for everything that is to come.

This may just be the next big lesson live-service games can learn, and studios like Blizzard Entertainment and Firewalk Studios can take a closer look at exactly what they’re trying to sell. Or rather, who they cater to.

What do you think of the upcoming title? Do you think it can attract and maintain a strong player base? Let us know in the comments below.