BlizzardOverwatch 2 has finally clawed back against Marvel Rivals in one big way for the first time since the competition got a foothold. Twitch viewership is the best it’s been in three months.
When Marvel Rivals burst onto the scene at the tail end of 2024, it exploded in more ways than one. While the player count quickly skyrocketed with millions jumping in to explore the new hero shooter, viewership across streaming platforms also got off to a huge start.
On launch day alone, December 6, Marvel Rivals shot to 148,291 average viewers on Twitch, according to data from SullyGnome. Meanwhile, its biggest competitor in the genre, Overwatch 2, fell to a meager 9,012 average viewers as most flocked to the new hotness.
The following weeks were relatively quiet for Overwatch 2 as Marvel Rivals continued to dominate. However, Blizzard is finally fighting back in a big way. Hot off the heels of the Spotlight event and with Season 15 now live, Overwatch 2 has surpassed Marvel Rivals on Twitch for the first time since it arrived on the scene.
Overwatch 2 overtakes Marvel Rivals on Twitch for the first time
With the Overwatch 2 Spotlight event, wherein, Blizzard lifted the veil on the game’s future, revealing new modes, heroes, and fundamental changes, Twitch viewership officially cleared Marvel Rivals for the very first time.
On the day of the event, February 12, with all the top Overwatch 2 personalities streaming their own POVs, the game had an average of 110,573 viewers, trumping Marvel Rivals at 77,847 average viewers.
SullygnomeThat’s not all though, the upward trend has continued. With the release of Season 15, bringing about a new Perk system, the return of Loot Boxes, and plenty more, Overwatch 2 has continued to thrive on the streaming platform. On February 19, the game recorded an average of 127,490 viewers, while Marvel Rivals fell to 57,577 average viewers.
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Now it’s worth noting, Overwatch 2 is currently benefiting from exclusive Twitch Drops. By tuning into the Spotlight event and now by watching along in Season 15, players can grab a range of unique cosmetics, including hero skins.
Of course, Marvel Rivals previously enjoyed the same luxury with exclusive Twitch Drops, but the game hasn’t seen any new rewards in this regard since January 25.
It’s also worth keeping in mind the fact Marvel Rivals is on the verge of its own major update. The Season 1.5 patch goes live on February 21 and brings two new heroes to the game. With a great deal of hype surrounding this patch, viewership is sure to climb once again. Though whether Marvel Rivals will clear Overwatch 2 again right away remains to be seen.
One thing is clear though, Overwatch 2 isn’t going anywhere, even with the fiercest competition it’s ever faced. The two hero shooters look destined to continue jostling for that top spot.
