Marvel Rivals is off to an extremely strong start and is receiving plenty of praise – not least because the monetization for a Free2Play game is extremely fair.
The new Free2Play shooter Marvel Rivals is entering the world of multiplayer shooters with impressive momentum. Even before its release, the title was one of the most-wanted games on Steam and has now more than met expectations with an extremely successful launch day.
444,000 players at launch
It’s no surprise that a free-to-play Marvel-licensed shooter that made a very positive impression during its beta phase would attract a lot of players. But the numbers are massive even for a Free2Play title: On release day, up to 444,000 players were online at the same time – and the numbers could increase even further over the weekend.
For comparison: Delta Force, which was even ahead of Marvel Rivals in the Steam wishlists before its release, reached a maximum of 102,000 users at the same time.
But the first reviews from users are also quite impressive: 74 percent of Steam reviews are positive, with much of the negative feedback related to the game’s hardware demands. Even with a powerful system, some players apparently experience frame drops and crashes, especially when compiling the shaders at the start of the game.
On the other hand, there is a lot of praise for the gameplay, which is still very much inspired by the former hero shooter Overwatch
To be honest, we’ve only had a quick look so far. As Overwatch players etc., you know what’s what after 3 rounds, and what can I say? Overwatch can pack it in.
– CatNoirIf you used to like Overwatch and are looking for an alternative to the current tragedy of Overwatch 2, this is the game for you. Very good game
– Mori100 times better than Overwatch ☺3
– Vladimir
And there is also praise for the fair Free2Play system: All heroes are playable for free, the Battle Pass contains only cosmetic rewards, can be completed without time pressure and costs just under 5 dollars. Games like Overwatch 2, Fornite or Call of Duty charge double that here.
Despite its impressive launch, Marvel Rivals faces the same challenge as many of its genre peers: keeping player numbers high in the long term and providing an engaging experience that stands out from the competition.
The 6v6 format is popular and proven, but it only works with a vibrant community – and this community must be motivated in the long term by regular updates, new content and fair monetization.
But what do you think? Will you give the shooter a try? Or do the colorful visuals and buzzwords like Free2Play make you lose interest? Let us know in the comments section!
