The State of Competitive Play in Marvel Rivals: My Concerns and Hopes

I was a Top 500 player in Overwatch 1, and I have to say that the current state of competitive play in Marvel Rivals is really bad. The triple support and one tank meta doesn’t work well for 6v6 team shooters. Even high-elo streamers who came from Overwatch seem to agree and aren’t enjoying the high-level gameplay loop.

I get that the devs are targeting the casual player base at launch—it’s a smart move. But if they want this game to thrive like Overwatch did at its peak, they also need to focus on the competitive scene.

Here's another thing to consider: former Overwatch pros currently don’t have anywhere to go. The other competitive hero shooters, like Apex Legends and Valorant, are declining. If Marvel Rivals can cater to pro players and make the game enjoyable at higher ranks, it could spark a thriving esports scene. With established pros migrating to the game, the competitive scene could really take off.

Esports brings more viewers, which means more players, and more players mean more revenue for the game.

That said, I don’t think the devs should ignore casual players—they’re essential to the game’s success. But the thing with casual players is that you don’t have to do much to keep them around. As long as there’s a game to play, they’ll stick with it.

What do you guys think? I have high hopes for this game and the dev team, and I’m curious to hear your thoughts.