Overwatch 2 Is So Washed They’re Now Copying Marvel Rivals

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Since the debut of Marvel Rivals, it’s been frequently pointed out that it resembles Overwatch. However, it seems that the situation has reversed, with Overwatch appearing to take inspiration from Marvel Rivals’ gameplay strategies now.

As an ardent Overwatch 2 enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the upcoming introduction of hero bans in Competitive Mode. This change is set to bring a fresh dynamic to team formations and game balance, making each match even more engaging and strategic.

Hero Bans in Overwatch 2

In an official Overwatch blog entry, systems designer Gavin Winter writes:

In creating this system, we aim to empower players with strategic choices without targeting less popular characters unfairly… One key objective when incorporating Hero Bans in Overwatch 2 is to facilitate banning overpowered or irritating heroes, not merely because your opponents prefer them.

In this game, every team gets to veto or ban two characters during the Ban Phase. This is different from other games where players take turns banning characters; in our case, both teams will make their selections at the same time. Each player on a team will choose three heroes as potential bans – the first choice has the most significant influence while the following choices have less of an impact on the final decision.

During the Banning Phase, players get to choose their preferred hero, giving your team a sense of who you’d like to play as the game commences. Additionally, voice chat is enabled during this phase, allowing players to clearly discuss and coordinate strategies for banning characters more effectively.

Copying Marvel Rivals? Not Exactly

For some time now, there’s been talk within the Overwatch community about the possibility of Hero Bans being implemented – discussions that began even before Marvel Rivals was released. Therefore, it wouldn’t be accurate to claim that Blizzard is simply following in the footsteps of Marvel Rivals with this potential change.

To set the record straight, it’s important to acknowledge that the swift implementation of features like Perks and Stadium Mode in Overwatch 2 didn’t just magically appear out of thin air. Truth be told, the impressive strides made by Marvel Rivals have undeniably accelerated our pace. So, while it might seem like NetEase’s Overwatch clone isn’t sitting idly by, it’s clear that they’re making a significant impact on the evolution of Blizzard’s hero shooter.

Currently, Blizzard appears to be ironing out issues with Hero Bans, as they’ve affirmed they’ll analyze data on frequently banned heroes across different ranks, regions, platforms, and maps.

As I dive back into Overwatch, here’s hoping these updates breathe some fresh air and revive its dwindling player base.

Starting April 22, Overwatch 2 enters its Season 16. The game can now be played on Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 4|5. Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals is available to play on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5.

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2025-04-19 04:12