Overwatch has been the leading force in the hero shooter genre since it launched in 2016. Although role-based games like Team Fortress 2 from Valve came out earlier, Overwatch brought a new level of popularity to the genre. Despite some imperfections in 2022’s Overwatch 2, it has kept the momentum going. However, Marvel Rivals has arrived and is making a significant challenge to the titleholder.
Launched in December, Marvel Rivals is an exciting 6v6 hero shooter that allows players to embody some of the most legendary heroes and villains in history. However, it offers much more than just its famous characters. With 33 heroes available at launch, eight diverse maps, and three primary game modes, Marvel Rivals feels like a well-rounded experience from the start, and this is just the beginning. Season 1 is scheduled to kick off on January 10, bringing a host of new content that puts the pressure back on Overwatch 2.
Marvel Rivals Is Leaving Overwatch 2 In The Dust With Its Heroes
Marvel Rivals’ Launch Roster Already Gave Overwatch 2 a Run for its Money
When it first launched, Marvel Rivals featured 33 playable heroes and villains, each equipped with their own unique primary fire, a special set of abilities, and an Ultimate move. Players could also unlock a variety of cosmetics. In contrast, Overwatch 1 debuted with only 12 heroes back in 2016.
After its launch in 2016, Overwatch 1 expanded its lineup with new heroes such as Ana, Orisa, Sombra, and Moira. The last update for Overwatch 1 came in April 2020, introducing the damage hero Echo and bringing the total number of heroes to 31. When Overwatch 2 entered early access in October 2022, it retained all 31 heroes from the original game and introduced three fresh faces: Kiriko, Sojourn, and Junker Queen.
This indicates that when Overwatch 2 was released in October 2022, it featured 34 heroes. Consequently, Marvel Rivals made a significant achievement by launching with 33 heroes, none of which were directly carried over from earlier versions.
Marvel Rivals’ Post-Launch Plan Is Putting Overwatch 2 to Shame
This is only the start for Marvel Rivals! Before the game launched, developer NetEase assured fans that new heroes would be introduced in the post-launch seasons at no cost. They’re keeping that promise, as Marvel Rivals Season 1 is scheduled to kick off on January 10, featuring an exciting lineup of four new playable heroes, all of whom are key members of The Fantastic Four.
It’s not yet certain whether all the Fantastic Four heroes will join Marvel Rivals on the same day when Season 1 launches. However, we do know that by the end of the season, which is expected to last about 2 to 3 months, all four will be part of the roster. This release timeline is much more favorable compared to Overwatch 2’s hero rollout.
Since its early access launch two years and three months ago, Overwatch 2 has introduced only 10 new heroes. Looking at the details, four heroes were added in 2022, three in 2023, and another three in 2024. This indicates that Marvel Rivals will likely add more heroes in a single season than Overwatch 2 typically does in a whole year. And this is probably just the beginning of Marvel Rivals’ content for the year.
While it may not be entirely just to compare Overwatch and Marvel Rivals head-to-head, there’s no denying that Marvel Rivals’ post-launch strategy has somewhat diminished the excitement around Overwatch 2. This is further complicated by the lukewarm reception of Overwatch 2’s newest hero among fans.