Gaming

NetEase Confident Marvel Rivals Won’t Clash with Overwatch 2

February 27, 2025

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In Short:

After a decline, Overwatch 2’s player count saw a 17% boost following Season 15
NetEase looks confident that Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 can thrive together in the same market
NetEase plans to support Overwatch 2 in China, aiming to rejuvenate the game and drive it toward much greater success

For a time, it appeared that Marvel Rivals was overtaking Overwatch 2.

The game quickly reached 40 million users and maintained strong player retention. In contrast, Overwatch 2 saw a steep decline, losing 40% of its players in almost 7 weeks.

Following revelations that Overwatch 2‘s director pressured the team, the Blizzard-developed hero shooter saw a slight rebound after Season 15’s release. Its Steam reviews shifted to “Mixed,” and the player base grew by 17%.

Although the two games are direct competitors, a recent statement from NetEase during its latest earnings call indicates they can successfully coexist in the same market.

NetEase Asserts That Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 Can Thrive Together in the Market

During the investor Q&A, NetEase addressed Overwatch 2’s return to China, stating, “Marvel Rivals and Overwatch are both top-tier superhero shooters, crafted by skilled development teams. We believe the market is big enough to support both.”

Notably, NetEase may have a greater stake in Overwatch 2, as it is helping reintroduce the game to China alongside other Blizzard titles such as World of Warcraft and Hearthstone

NetEase’s plans go beyond simply bringing Overwatch 2 back to China, it aims to “revitalize the product and push it to new levels of success.”

Just last week, Blizzard shared a similar sentiment about Marvel Rivals, describing the competition between the two games as somewhat “really great”.

At the time of the investor Q&A, NetEase detailed its long-term strategy for Marvel Rivals, emphasizing the future tasks to basically give a huge supprt for the game not just today but also after a span of ten years.