Is Overwatch Dead? And Who Killed It? (Hint: Marvel Rivals)

For nearly a decade, Overwatch has been one of the gaming world’s most important multiplayer shooting games. It’s come a long way since the initial 2016 release, spawning a sequel in 2023. However, it’s been less than two years, and fans are already saying Overwatch 2 is dead. Are they justified? Here’s what you need to know.

Is Overwatch 2 Dying? 

Is a game ever truly dead? To this day, people still play Super Mario Bros. 3 despite the fact that the game is nearly four decades old. Gamers still play Overwatch 2 in 2025 — it’s just a matter of how many. 

Start with data from people who play the game on PC. Steam Charts says Overwatch 2 saw increased players from January to February, with a peak of nearly 59,000 users. However, not all news is good news. 

December 2024 saw significant drops compared to previous months and marked the first time since July that the game dipped below a 30,000-player average. Then, January saw a decline of nearly 6,000 players to the lowest total since October 2023. 

So, why is this news important?  

The holiday season is a prime time for multiplayer games to see increased traffic. Students are home from school, opening Christmas presents and playing video games. Unfortunately for Blizzard Entertainment, it seems like people have moved to other games. 

Why People Say Overwatch 2 Is Dead Nowadays

Overwatch 2 has been out since 2023, but time flies faster in the digital age. If something else comes along, people will quickly flock to what they believe are bigger and better games. In this instance, it’s Marvel Rivals. 

Marvel Rivals just so happened to release in December 2024, so it has significantly pulled from Overwatch 2. Reports show the game had 1.6 million active players in December and January. How many were playing both Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2?

There could be guys and gals playing both games. After all, why would you let either sit in your PS5 or Steam library and not use them? Unfortunately for Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals has the newness factor. 

Imagine getting a new game and knowing the rest of the world is playing. Your instinct is likely to binge-watch the game as if it were a new TV show on Netflix or Hulu. Nights and days are dedicated to accruing new characters, skins, tokens and XP. Unfortunately, that means other games go on the back burner. 

Streamers Decide Marvel Rivals Vs. Overwatch 2

Like it or not, streamers heavily influence what gamers play in 2025. The rise of Twitch, YouTube and Discord streaming has led to lucrative media deals for Ninja, Kai Cenat and Pokimane. 

When these public figures say something about a game, the rest of the world listens. Recently, Richard Blevins (Ninja) had something to say about Overwatch. While livestreaming, Blevins said the Overwatch 2 launch was abysmal, and the game is dead and gone. 

Ninja juxtaposed the game with Marvel Rivals, saying the latter offers more updates and incentives for players to keep coming back. For instance, it didn’t take long for Marvel’s newest title to unleash a second map and introduce more characters. 

Then, Ninja was more optimistic about the future of Marvel Rivals, saying its staying power is much stronger. Blevins said the developers have enough content to bring updates for at least a decade. 

Is he on point? Truth be told, the MCU is gigantic and can fit so many stories. Marvel Rivals has a lot going in its favor, so it comes down to the quality of gameplay. 

Why Overwatch 2 Is Still Popular in 2025

If you’re an Overwatch stan, don’t worry — it’s not all doom and gloom. There are still reasons to be optimistic about the game. 

For starters, people have been saying, “Overwatch is dead” for the better part of a decade. If the game truly faded into irrelevancy, they wouldn’t have made a second title in 2023. Furthermore, they wouldn’t pay to keep the servers up for current players. 

Some gamers say the problem isn’t with the game itself — it’s the online community. Overwatch 2 requires strategy, teamwork and precision. In contrast, games like Marvel Rivals are more friendly to beginner gamers who can spray and pray with less strategy.

There’s a difference between a game being in decline and dead. Does Overwatch 2 fall under the former? That’s debatable! However, saying the title is dead doesn’t have a strong argument. 

Gamers, especially in the digital age, are quick to overreact. Once they play a game and burn out, they exclaim how a game no longer has the juice. People have used the same arguments for the Halo franchise, Fortnite and every other game under the sun. 

What’s Next for Overwatch 2?

If you believe what people on the internet say, you may feel misguided about Overwatch 2. These bloggers, commenters and streamers foster a reality where nobody plays the game anymore. However, that doesn’t necessarily paint an accurate picture. 

Overwatch 2 still receives updates and adheres to what gamers want. For example, the developers recently adjusted the loot box drops to make the title more rewarding for users. 

The Epic Souvenirs now have rare quality, meaning you get new skins or weapon charms from the loot boxes. Blizzard originally had this feature in the first Overwatch, and now they’ve finally brought it back for the sequel. 

The next big thing for Overwatch 2 is the most recent season 15 release. If Blizzard wants to catch up with Marvel Rivals, this update is the best opportunity. 

In a recent interview, game director Aaron Keller told Games Radar that the Overwatch 2 team put a lot of effort into seasons 15 and 16. From perks to Stadium, the developers have searched for the missing pieces. 

The primary focus has been making the game more fresh for players. If you play Overwatch 2 for a while, you may feel a little staleness in the gameplay. However, Kellner’s team added perks to increase depth and add strategy. 

Declaring Whether Overwatch 2 Is Dead in 2025

Overwatch 2 is among the most-played games in the first-person shooter realm. Since its 2023 release, it has seen steady play from the gaming community. However, newer titles like Marvel Rivals have overshadowed Overwatch 2 in mainstream media. 

So, is Overwatch 2 dead? Of course not. There are still dedicated players who play the game online every month. While it might not reach its late 2023 popularity, it still has a fanbase. Until the servers shut down, you can declare the game alive.