Top Three Reasons Marvel Rivals is Taking Market Share from Overwatch 2

Marvel Rivals has burst onto the scene, climbing Steam’s charts. Today’s peak CCU is 420,000 players. In comparison, Overwatch 2 struggles to break 25,000 concurrent players on Steam, yes there are more on Battle.net and consoles but its safe to say, now 420K. The numbers tell a story, but player feedback and critical reviews provide the “why.” Here are the top three reasons I believe Marvel Rivals is beating Overwatch 2 at its own game.

 
1. Monetization That Feels Fair

If there’s one thing Overwatch 2 players have loudly criticized, it’s the game’s monetization. Blizzard’s shift to a Battle Pass and costly cosmetics system hasn’t landed well. Unlocking heroes or skins often feels like a grind—or worse, a heavy hit to the wallet.

Marvel Rivals, on the other hand, takes a more player-friendly approach. Early players praise its progression systems, where cosmetics and skins can be unlocked through gameplay without aggressive monetization tactics. It feels rewarding to play, not punishing. As one Steam user aptly put it:

“It feels like I’m earning my rewards, not renting them.”

 
2. Better Team Balance with 6v6 Format

Overwatch 2's shift to 5v5 gameplay was controversial. It puts immense pressure on tanks and creates situations where one underperforming role can ruin an entire match. Player feedback shows frustration with this format, as many claim it has thrown off team synergy and fun.

Marvel Rivals sticks to the classic 6v6 team structure, which evenly distributes responsibilities across the team. Combined with its diverse Marvel roster, players feel empowered to experiment with different heroes without one role dominating the match outcome. Influencers and streamers have praised the design, with comments like:

“It just feels fairer. I don’t feel like I’m carrying the weight of the team alone.”

 
3. A More Positive Community Experience

Toxicity has been another glaring issue for Overwatch 2, with players often pointing to Blizzard’s lack of effective moderation. Reports of bad behavior are common, and players feel that little is being done to curb it.

Marvel Rivals, while still new, has put strong moderation tools and community guidelines in place right from the start. Early feedback from players and influencers suggests that this has fostered a healthier, more welcoming community, which is crucial for retaining players long-term.

As one Reddit user put it:

“I’ve played 20 games of Marvel Rivals so far, and I haven’t muted a single teammate yet. Can’t say that about Overwatch.”

 
Marvel Rivals is riding high, and time will tell if it replaces Overwatch. By addressing key frustrations like unfair monetization, unbalanced team structures, and community toxicity, it’s setting itself up as the hero shooter players are currently preferring to log into.

Other reasons?