Summary
- Marvel Rivals only lost 3% of players in six weeks, showing strong player retention.
- Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 suffered 53% player drops in the same period.
- Delta Force had the second-best retention with a 12% player drop, four times more than Marvel Rivals.
It's shocking news to nobody that Marvel Rivals has taken the world by storm. The game has a staggering player count that it's consistently kept hold of, transparent controls against its cheaters, and enough future content to keep it going for another 875 years (yes, really).
Someone Reached Grandmaster In Marvel Rivals Without Ever Dealing Damage
Rocket Raccoon without a rocket is just "Raccoon."
What might be a little more shocking, though, is just how well NetEase's hero shooter is retaining players compared to other recent live-service releases.
Marvel Rivals Has Lost Only Three Percent Of Its Average Player Count Over Six Weeks
With Marvel Rivals having six full weeks since its launch, we decided to see just how well its player retention stacked up against other recently released live-service titles.
Using SteamDB, we found that Rivals averaged 331,225 players on Steam during its launch week. Six weeks later, the game is still garnering an average of 320,892 players, meaning it's lost just three percent over that period, at least on the Valve-owned platform—a stunning effort.
Six weeks later, the game is still garnering an average of 320,892 players, meaning it's lost just three percent over that period.
Overwatch 2, which is widely considered the title most similar to Rivals, can't boast figures that are anywhere near as impressive. Around launch, Blizzard's hero shooter managed an average of 38,239 players, dropping to 17,859 just six weeks later, a decline of 53 percent, and that wasn't the only recent Blizzard title to suffer the same fate. Released in June 2023, Diablo 4 also lost 53 percent of its Steam player count within its first six weeks.
Diablo 4 did encounter some impressive resurgences following the game's DLC drops, most notably around the launch of Vessel of Hatred, but with any rise comes a fall, and within six weeks of Vessel of Hatred's launch, Diablo 4 had only managed to retain 26 percent of its player count.
Interestingly, of the games we analyzed, Delta Force, which launched a day before Marvel Rivals, had the second-best player retention. Upon release, it had an average peak of 75,366 players, and now, it's averaging 66,580 players. That's a drop of 12 percent, which is impressive but still four times more than Rivals.
Other notable titles included Helldivers 2, which lost 34 percent of its players over six weeks, Path of Exile 2, which lost 39, and Palworld, which lost a staggering 87 percent. Although its developers will claim it's not a live-service title.
You can check the full results of our analysis below:
|
Launch/Peak Week Average Player Count |
Average After 6 Weeks |
Percentage Drop |
|
|
Marvel Rivals |
331,225 |
320,892 |
3 |
|
Delta Force |
75,366 |
66,580 |
12 |
|
Helldivers 2 |
264,109 |
173,490 |
34 |
|
Once Human |
153,381 |
94,564 |
38 |
|
Path Of Exile 2 |
352,292 |
216,426 |
39 |
|
Overwatch 2 |
38,239 |
17,859 |
53 |
|
Diablo 4 |
15,822 |
7,372 |
53 |
|
Throne and Liberty |
201,795 |
78,244 |
61 |
|
The Finals |
151,665 |
48,370 |
68 |
|
The First Descendant |
172,742 |
48,090 |
72 |
|
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred |
32,894 |
8,550 |
74 |
|
Palworld |
1,293,423 |
164,818 |
87 |
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 Roster
Choose 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 Dynamics
With 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 Synergy
Coordinate 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 Destruction
Tear 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 Updates
The 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!
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- Top Critic Rating: 78/100 Critics Recommend: 83%
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
