Summary
Marvel Rivals' recent closed Beta has made a significant splash in the hero shooter genre, particularly amongOverwatch 2players. With2024 witnessing a surge in the hero-shooters' popularity,Marvel Rivalsis primed to be a unique addition to the blossoming market. Interestingly, though both games offer unique experiences, there are intriguing parallels that hint at opportunities for mutual learning.
One area for potential inspiration lies inMarvel Rivals' tournament system. This feature, seen in the Dawn of Legends and War of the Realms tournaments, has fostered a strong sense of community engagement and strategic depth for its player base, despite the game not yet being officially released. WhileOverwatch 2already offers a robust esports scene and established tournament structures, there might be valuable insights to be gleaned fromMarvel Rivals' approach.
Marvel Rivals' Tournament Format Welcomes All Players
Marvel Rivals May Be Young, But It Has A Serious Competitive Edge
Marvel Rivals' first tournament, Dawn of Legends, generated excitement for several reasons. Held during the closed Alpha in May, the event was incredibly successful. Not only did it attract significant attention from the game’s growing Twitch community, but NetEase Games enhanced the experience by bringing in a talented cast of commentators known for their work ingames likeOverwatch 2andValorant. In addition, the tournament featured a generous prize pool of $22,500, with the top teams sharing the rewards and first place, Team Mutants, taking home $10,000.
Although some were surprised to seeMarvel Rivalsentering the esports sceneso quickly, such a decision has demonstrated NetEase Games' commitment to fostering its player base and giving back to its community. Fueling the excitement for July’s closed Beta,Marvel Rivalsannounced a second tournament, War of the Realms. This competition appears to broaden its reach by including four regions, console players, and a substantial $15,000 prize pool.
Most notable is the game’s dedication to making the tournaments easily accessible for its player base. Those granted access to the playtest can easily register a Faction through the in-game ‘Tournament’ screen. Basic rules include having six members per team and all players being 18 years or older, which makes the registration process quite straightforward.
Overwatch 2 Could Follow in Marvel Rivals' Footsteps
An extremely defining aspect ofMarvel Rivals' tournament approach is its strong in-game support, which is represented by the ‘Tournament’ and ‘Factions’ tabs. This integration sets it apart from games likeOverwatch 2, where tournament participation might feel more disconnected from the core gameplay experience. It’s important to note that Blizzard’s FPS does offer events like June’s Community Crafted Tournament, the Challengers Series, the Speaker Series circuits,and other FACEIT tournaments, but it comes at a cost.Overwatch 2’s tournaments are harder to access because they require navigating third-party platforms.
If Blizzard were to weave the tournaments within the game itself, it might result in a more cohesive experience. Arranging in-game tabs that promote community-oriented tournaments could be a critical step in the right direction. For instance, though series like Calling All Heroes are open to members of marginalized gender identities, the scene is often dominated by high-level pros,including Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS)and Top 500 players. AMarvel Rivals-style format could foster a more welcoming environment for aspiring competitors, even those without pro-level experience.
Furthermore, although it’s not essential, offering cash rewards alongside in-game prizes could further incentivize the player base.Flats, anOverwatch 2content creator, and Top 500 competitor, pointed out that winners of June’s Community Crafted Tournament earned around $65 worth of in-game currency over the four-day event. In contrast,Marvel Rivals' tournaments, including Open Qualifiers and the Knockout Stage, span about five days and offer a larger prize pool.
Overall, although theOverwatchfranchise has undeniably been amajor influence on the hero-shooter genresince its debut in 2016, there’s still room for it to learn from other games in the category. Streamlining in-game tournament participation could be a promising sign for the game’s future. Hopefully, in time, Blizzard will consider exploring such a process.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
