Summary
It’s been a cracking year for big game launches onSteam.Palworldstarted the year off strong, hitting over two million concurrent players,Black Myth: Wukongbecamethe most-played single-player game on the platform,Call of Duty: Black Ops 6eclipsed the series' previous record,set by Modern Warfare 3, andMonster Hunter Wilds’open beta blew up, withalmost half a million players jumping in.
With the year coming to a close, you’d be forgiven for thinking that things had settled down. However,Marvel Rivalsjust launched, instantly becoming the fifth-largest Steam concurrent player count of 2024, six times larger than Overwatch 2 has ever achieved.
Marvel Rivals Gets Off To A Flying Start
After a handful of successful betas, Marvel Rivals launched on Jul 02, 2025. Within moments of launch, according toSteamDB, 444,286 players were playing the game on the Valve-owned platform. The game also currently sits at ‘Mostly Positive’ reviews, suggesting they’re having a good time.
Compare that to Overwatch 2, which launched in August last year, and things couldn’t be much different.Blizzard’sstrangely unnecessary sequel peaked at just over75,000 players, roughly six times fewer than what Rivals achieved on day one, and things are only likely to get busier for Netease’s title as we head into its first weekend. It’s worth noting, though, that despite its lower peak, Overwatch 2 has managed to maintain a respectable player base, with roughly 32,000 players online at a given time.
Overwatch 2 peaked at just over 75,000 players, roughly six times less than what Rivals achieved on day one.
The Sentiment around Blizzard’s hero shooter was comparativelynot great, either. While Rivals is already at ‘Mostly Positive’, Overwatch 2 remains at ‘Mostly Negative’, with recent reviews coming out ‘Mixed’.
A Strong Start With Limited Issues
It’s commonplace these days that when a big multiplayer game launches, it’s plagued with server issues. That wasn’t the case with Marvel Rivals.
Multiplethreadshave popped up on the game’ssubreddit, with players praising just how smooth things have been.KoopahTroopahsaid, “I just played for five hours straight, <1s queue times, zero disconnects, and no latency issues,” calling it “the best online-based launch”, a sentiment echoed by plenty of others.
It seems like there’s a good feeling around this one, and long may it continue.
Marvel Rivals
WHERE TO PLAY
Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!A Deep and Varied Marvel RosterChoose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game DynamicsWith intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there’s never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.Dynamic Hero SynergyCoordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!Creative Environment DestructionTear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch UpdatesThe Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
