Overwatch 2 Devs Continuing 6v6 Tests Confirms Marvel Rivals Is a Bigger Threat Than Blizzard Expected

Overwatch 2 has been on a steady decline since Season 14 dropped and while the game is averaging out almost 20,000 players per day, more and more players are opting for its direct competitor, Marvel Rivals.

Needless to say, fans have been pretty disappointed by Overwatch 2 for the past few months, or maybe even more. Now that Overwatch players have found a better alternative to the disappointing title, they seem to have little or no reason to look back at the game. So, what is Blizzard doing to counteract Overwatch players from migrating to Marvel Rivals? Let’s find out.

Blizzard finally brings back 6v6 to Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2 has been plagued with disappointment since the launch of the game. From the removal of 6v6 to the cancellation of PvE, these controversial decisions have led the game to lose its dedicated fanbase. Players who stuck around, have long been asking for 6v6 to be reintroduced ever since the game was released with Blizzard doing absolutely nothing about it, until recently.

At the end of 2024, Blizzard finally decided to bring back 6v6 in Overwatch 2 as a separate game mode. This got an overwhelmingly positive response from the players and the director of Overwatch, Aaron Keller decided to bring back 6v6 permanently. According to Blizzard’s official blog page, the director of the title has stated that a mini-competitive season featuring 6v6 is set to launch in midseason 15. 

“We’re going to run a mini-competitive season of 6v6 starting midseason 15.  It’s still a little early to say what 6v6’s place is in Overwatch with a decent amount of people playing it, I think that it’s probably here to stay in some form, but so far, we’re not ready to swap the core format of the game.”

Although Keller also commented on how they are not ready to swap the game’s core mechanic yet, this move has reignited hope among players, particularly tank mains, who have long awaited a return to the classic competitive format.

Marvel Rivals forces Blizzard to make changes

Blizzard’s sudden willingness to bring 6v6 can be attributed to the release and massive success of Marvel Rivals. This new hero shooter offers fresh gameplay mechanics, a huge roster of heroes, and a level of product that Overwatch 2 has failed to deliver.

The reintroduction of 6v6 signals an attempt to bring back dissatisfied players who have either stopped playing Overwatch 2 or have considered switching to Marvel Rivals. This shift also reflects Blizzard’s need to listen to their own player base’s feedback which they have been often criticized for neglecting in the past.

The rise of Marvel Rivals in the hero shooter genre has finally prompted Blizzard to listen to their player base and make the long-awaited changes, proving that competition often drives improvement.