Overwatch 2, once a dominant force in the hero-shooter genre, has recently experienced a sharp drop in Twitch viewership. This decline coincides with the launch of Marvel Rivals, a competing hero shooter that has captured the attention of gamers and streamers alike. While Overwatch 2 still maintains a dedicated player base, the impact of Marvel Rivals has been impossible to ignore.
Massive Decline in Viewership
Overwatch 2 saw its peak Twitch viewership cut in half within a month of Marvel Rivals’ release. According to data from Streamscharts, the game’s average viewership dropped from 28,000 to 18,000 between November and December. The most striking figure is the peak viewership, which fell from 125,000 to 64,000 during the same period.
This drop occurred despite the release of Overwatch 2’s new hero, Hazard, and the launch of Season 14. Even with popular events like an Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover and Winter skins, the game struggled to keep its audience engaged.
Marvel Rivals Steals the Spotlight
Marvel Rivals launched with overwhelming hype, and its numbers reflect its success. The game achieved a peak viewership of 279,000 in December, far outpacing Overwatch 2. Unlike Overwatch, Marvel Rivals maintained strong engagement even after Twitch drops ended, signaling sustained interest.
Several former Overwatch 2 streamers, including Flats, Emongg, Eskay, Necros, Aspen, and bogur, saw significant growth after switching to Marvel Rivals. For instance, Eskay doubled her viewership, and bogur’s peak viewers skyrocketed from 3,400 to 20,000. With Marvel Rivals providing better opportunities for growth and profitability, many creators are unlikely to return to Overwatch 2.
Why Streamers Prefer Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals offers a fresh and exciting gameplay experience, which has attracted streamers looking for new content. Unlike Overwatch 2, where competition often requires gimmicks to maintain audience interest, Marvel Rivals allows streamers to focus purely on gameplay.
Moreover, Marvel Rivals has broader appeal due to its Marvel-themed characters and promises of more heroes than Overwatch 2 by 2025. This has left Overwatch struggling to compete, despite its established player base and frequent updates.
Can Overwatch 2 Bounce Back?
While Overwatch 2 is far from dead, it faces a serious challenge in retaining its audience. Blizzard will need to act quickly, introducing more compelling content and events to recapture player interest. Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals shows no signs of slowing down, establishing itself as a major player in the hero-shooter market.
For fans of both games, it will be interesting to see whether Overwatch 2 can recover or if Marvel Rivals continues its dominance in the months ahead.
