Since its debut in 2016, Overwatch has dominated the hero shooter landscape, setting benchmarks in gameplay and character design. While earlier games such as Valve’s Team Fortress 2 laid the groundwork for role-based shooters, it was Overwatch that truly revolutionized the genre. With the release of Overwatch 2 in 2022, the franchise maintained a firm grip on its reign, despite its imperfections. Now, however, a new contender has emerged: Marvel Rivals.
Launched in December 2023, Marvel Rivals introduces an exhilarating 6v6 hero shooter experience featuring some of the most beloved characters from the Marvel universe. With 33 heroes available at launch, alongside eight distinct maps and three engaging game modes, Marvel Rivals positions itself as a robust competitor right from the start. Moreover, the upcoming Season 1, starting on January 10, promises fresh content that could further pressure Overwatch 2 to evolve.
Marvel Rivals: A Dynamic Hero Roster That Outshines Overwatch 2
Marvel Rivals’ Launch Roster Competes Powerfully with Overwatch 2
Marvel Rivals debuted with a diverse selection of 33 heroes and villains, each equipped with unique primary attacks, abilities, and Ultimate moves, along with a variety of unlockable cosmetics. In comparison, the original Overwatch launched with only 12 characters back in 2016. Over the years, Overwatch steadily expanded its roster, culminating in a total of 31 heroes by its last significant update in April 2020, which introduced Echo. Upon the release of Overwatch 2 in October 2022, it included 34 characters, having carried over 31 from the prequel and added three new ones: Kiriko, Sojourn, and Junker Queen.
Thus, launching with 33 heroes—none carried over from previous games—places Marvel Rivals in a commendable position against Overwatch 2.
Marvel Rivals’ Post-Launch Strategy: A Game-Changer for the Genre
Marvel Rivals intends to maintain momentum beyond its launch. Developer NetEase has committed to introducing new heroes free of charge during its post-launch seasons. Season 1, starting January 10, will feature four new heroes—prominently including members of The Fantastic Four—reinforcing the game’s commitment to expanding its roster.
Though it remains uncertain whether all Fantastic Four members will be introduced simultaneously at the start of Season 1, they will be available by the season’s conclusion, expected to last for approximately 2 to 3 months. In stark contrast, Overwatch 2’s hero release rhythm has been much slower: since its early access launch over two years ago, it has only added ten new heroes—four in 2022, three in 2023, and three in 2024.
The implications are clear: in merely one season, Marvel Rivals is set to surpass the yearly hero additions typically seen in Overwatch 2, suggesting a rich content roadmap ahead.
While comparing Overwatch and Marvel Rivals may not always be straightforward, it is undeniable that Marvel Rivals’ ambitious expansion plan highlights Overwatch 2’s recent stagnation, further compounded by underwhelming responses to its latest hero gathering.
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