"Marvel Rivals" is enjoying a nice surge in daily players thanks to consecutive updates that change the game trend. However, it was discovered that the third-person shooter game has recently experienced a significant drop in its player base, hitting a new all-time low of 159,426 players on Steam.
Even with the action-packed Season 2 update, this new number is enough for NetEase Games to wonder about the reason behind this sudden decline. There might be some problems with its long-term player retention.
'Marvel Rivals' Rollercoaster Player Count
When "Marvel Rivals" was released in late 2024, it was an instant hit among gamers. The combination of team-based, hero-shooter gameplay within the Marvel Comics universe attracted huge numbers of players, peaking at over 600,000 concurrent players during its peak launch, according to GameRant.
By February 2025, the game had over 40 million registered players, one of the most popular new games in the gaming market. But as of May 4, 2025, the concurrent player base of the game has fallen to a mere 159,426, as per SteamDB, which is a whopping 75% decline from its all-time high.
Why Are Players Leaving 'Marvel Rivals'?
The decline in the number of "Marvel Rivals" players can be explained by several factors. One of which is the game's role queue system—or the absence thereof.
Cooperation is at the heart of "Marvel Rivals," yet numerous players have complained about the game's focus on individual performance over class composition.
A role queue system would assist with making team-building less frustrating and allowing players to focus on their playstyle without being constantly matched against it. It is a problem that has been discussed incessantly since launch, and its absence may be turning off players.
Season 2 Update: New Features and Characters
Even with the reduction in players, "Marvel Rivals" is still dedicated to updating the experience to keep players engaged. The Season 2 update, which came out in April 2025, added new content to the game, such as Emma Frost as a playable character.
New players can also look forward to the coming of the highly anticipated Ultron later this month. These new additions are essential to keep its core players, even as some casual players leave. The update also introduces new rewards, skins, and gameplay modes, ensuring the game won't remain mundane with the same repetitive list of heroes and villains to use.
Is the Decline Permanent or Temporary?
It should be noted that the decline in player numbers is not necessarily a kiss of death for "Marvel Rivals." Games often see a spike in players during launch, followed by a natural drop as the initial hype fades. What is important is whether the game can keep a strong player base and continue to expand through updates and additional content.
''Marvel Rivals" could be losing its most casual players, but in doing so, is leaving behind a more dedicated but smaller group of fans.
