Summary
According to the director ofOverwatch 2, the competition provided by the growing popularity ofMarvel Rivalsis “exciting.“Marvel Rivalslaunched in late 2024, and poses the most significant threat yet to the dominance ofOverwatch 2in the hero shooter space.
For as much as some fans have complained aboutOverwatchandOverwatch 2, there’s no denying the influence Blizzard’s game has had. Not only didOverwatcheffectively define the hero shooter genre with its debut from the ashes of thecanceled BlizzardTitanMMORPG, its focus on easily identifiable characters with distinct kits went on to influence other live service games likeCall of Dutyand titles in other genres. New upstarts likeMarvel Rivalsowe a significant creative debt toOverwatch, even as they challenge its reign.
In an interview with Gamesradar,Overwatch 2director Aaron Keller said that the team “welcomes” the competitionMarvel Rivalsrepresents. He also expressed confidence inOverwatch 2’s ability to take up the challenge, and highlighted what’s coming next inOverwatch 2Season 15and beyond.
Overwatch 2 Team No Longer ‘Playing It Safe’ After Marvel Rivals
Keller praisedMarvel Rivalsfor, in essence, takingOverwatch 2on its own turf. He said that beforeMarvel Rivals, the team had yet to be confronted with another game “so similar to the one that we’ve created.” Indeed,Marvel Rivalshew closely to the foundations laid byOverwatchandOverwatch 2, so much so that fans of both games can readily suggestMarvel Rivalsmains based onOverwatch 2preferences.
After seeingMarvel Rivalssucceed at taking some ofOverwatch 2’s ideas in “different directions,” Keller said that the team at Blizzard won’t be “playing it safe” anymore. To that end, he pointed to some of themajor changes coming toOverwatch 2teased by the recent spotlight reveal event. These include an upgradeable perk system for heroes and a brand-new “Stadium” mode that introduces a customization and buying mechanic inspired by the likes ofValorantandCounter-Strike. Blizzard is also introducing much-requested features like 6-versus-6 team play, map voting, hero banning, and even reintroducing long-dormant monetization features like loot boxes.
Keller also said that the team relishes the challenge, treating the “pressure” as an opportunity to further improveOverwatch 2and ask itself questions like “How do we make the best possible game that we can?” He said that the coming shakeups in 2025 represent the chance to “inject a bit of freshness” intoOverwatch 2and “increase the depth of play.” Should Keller and the team’s gambit succeed, it could mean a new era of success for the now-venerable hero shooter, making it better for players, as well as for Blizzard.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
