Marvel Rivals launched with a bang — but can it go the distance in esports? With its vibrant visuals, fast-paced gameplay, and a developer team that’s already winning players over, NetEase’s hero shooter has quickly captured attention. Touted by some as an Overwatch 2 successor, Marvel Rivals has checked many boxes for casual and competitive players alike. But in a world where games rise and fall on the strength of their competitive scenes, the question remains: does Marvel Rivals have what it takes to become a true esports heavyweight?
NetEase released Marvel Rivals at the end of 2024 and was immediately met with positivity from FPS players, including pros. During a time when Blizzard was under fire for the questionable switch from 6v6 to 5v5 and content was lacking, Marvel Rivals felt like a breath of fresh air. With similar map layouts and game modes, what was once considered a cheap copy of Overwatch 2 became an improvement on the formula.
The game has continued to maintain an impressive player count. While most FPS/hero shooters see a rapid decline in players once the newness wears off, Marvel Rivals has shown it’s here to stay. SteamDB reports 150,000 active players in mid-April. While the all-time peak near its launch was over 644,000, its current player base is still higher than Overwatch 2, which sits at 21,500 on the same day.
Esports Scene Jumps to Marvel Rivals
Seeing the ongoing popularity of Marvel Rivals gave esports organisations a lot of confidence in the new FPS. Esports tournaments, such as the Marvel Invitational and Marvel Rival Championship S1, started being announced, prompting several signings to take place.
Sentinels, Virtus.pro, OG Esports, Luminosity, 100 Thieves, and more grabbed a roster ahead of the tournaments, many of whom are former Overwatch 2 players. This is reminiscent of when many pros transitioned from Counter-Strike to VALORANT.
“We’re extremely impressed with the initiatives that NetEase have already public announced and hosted that are focused on fostering a competitive-first ecoysystem for Marvel Rivals,” said Alex Gonzalez, Head of Luminosity Gaming.
“Player interest speaks for itself, and with continued commitment to a quality experience for widescale global audience, we feel Rivals is poised to be one of the top casual and esports titles for years to come. It isn’t often that a title like this emerges on the scene and captivates audiences at scale this quickly.”
Is Marvel Rivals Esports the Next Big Thing?
Playercount? Check. Hype? Check. But is Marvel Rivals’ esports scene picking up as expected?
The Marvel Rivals Invitational has become the most successful Marvel Rivals esports tournament so far in 2025. Marvel Rivals Invitational: North America #2 had a peak viewership of 71,000 and an average of 45,000 viewers, with almost 1.9 million hours watched. This breaks the previous watch time record by 235%, showing that Marvel Rivals is continuing to grow in popularity as the esports scene is established.
But it still has a long way to go. Marvel Rivals is nowhere close to major esports titles that are more established in the space. For example, the inaugural League of Legends First Stand had a peak viewership of 1.1 million fans. Even Overwatch 2 has managed to maintain a higher viewership, with a peak of 124,000 viewers so far in 2025, which was for OWC Champions Clash.
It’s too quick to count Marvel Rivals out, as NetEase has big plans in the works, and having developer support is key. Think of League of Legends having Riot Games and Dota 2 having Valve. NetEase has promised to support Marvel Rivals for “the next 10 years,” including content updates and esports tournaments.
Meanwhile, the esports scene has continued to debate the competitive viability of Marvel Rivals. While considered fun, does it have the balance and mechanics of a true esports? The repetitive abilities in the support role, as well as breakable environments on maps, have left some feeling it’s not truly there yet. The developer’s plans to add new heroes every season have also left esports fans wondering if the game will lack the balance and consistency required for a truly competitive experience.
While there are no specifics regarding NetEase’s plans, fans are expecting big things for 2025. This year will be make or break for Marvel Rivals’ esports scene. It’s crucial that NetEase plans a full tournament schedule while the game is still popular — if not, it may miss its chance to prove itself in the cutthroat esports industry.
Betting Potential
Sportsbooks should keep an eye out for Marvel Rivals’ esports scene as it continues to grow in 2025. Similar to VALORANT, Overwatch, and Counter-Strike 2, the betting potential is there. Popular markets include winning teams, individual player performance, captured objectives, and more.
However, the data is still very scarce. Without real-time tournament data, the high-uptime live markets might still be a struggle. With that said, Abios is monitoring the esports scene of the title, and add it to the roster if it seems to pick up speed. Do you need esports data or odds for your sportsbook?
