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Marvel Rivals, NetEase Games' highly anticipated superhero shooter, appears to be facing a grim future. Despite an impressive start with over 10 million users, the game's concurrent player count on Steam has drastically declined.
From a peak of 644,269 in January 2025, the number has plummeted to around 150,000, with data from SteamDB indicating a steady and worrying drop in users month after month. This sharp decline suggests the game may be unsustainable, casting doubt on its long-term prospects.
The shooting game riveted millions during its initial phase in December 2024 using the iconic 6v6 PvP Marvel IP, but revenue was still expected to drop after January. Despite this clear pivot in interest, player figures seem to have lost interest in line with console players also reportedly abandoning ship.
Current estimates of early May show console player count had plummeted in a shift with lost interest on the PlayStation Network, marking a tumble in PSN rank, too.
There are several reasons associated with the accelerated player attrition. Among the most common complaints issued by the community is the excessive pressure and stress associated with an imbalance in the competitive (ranked) mode. Players have expressed concerns about the absence of a proper role queue, which leads to problematic team structures and an often unrewarding competitive experience.
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It’s really concerning how smurfing has become a trend, where top players make new accounts just to dominate in lower-ranked games. This kind of behavior can seriously ruin the fun for less experienced players.
Balance changes implemented recently, especially those made during Season 2, have also come under a lot of fire. Nerfs to Deuxer’s meta-superstars Doctor Strange and Spider-Man have disenfranchised a great deal of their respective mains, which affects the entire Strategist class’s effectiveness.
This has even led to some Stratagem mains issuing a “community strike,” which further diminishes the already low player base. As well as this, the system for earning points seems arbitrary, as it heavily prioritizes Duelists over Vanguards and Strategists and has become a source of frustration for players.
It seems that even though there hasn’t been much talk about the decline in player numbers, NetEase Games is starting to take notice of what the community is saying. Recently, they’ve been having discussions about buffing the strategist characters and addressing some balance issues.
With the upcoming Season 2.5 and the much-awaited addition of Ultron as a new strategist hero, some are viewing this as a potential recapturing moment for lost players.
The new challenge Marvel Rivals faces is putting a stop to this growing number of players leaving. Although it is common in the gaming world to see a dip after an initial boom, the speed and magnitude of the decline do raise some eyebrows.
The game's ability to address its key and enduring competitive problems, alongside receiving regular engaging content updates, will determine whether the title can stabilize its player count and fulfill the expectations set during the early days.
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