By Sagar V. Mankar 
Marvel Rivals, developed by NetEase, has been a massive hit since its release on December 6, 2024. Often referred to as the “Overwatch 2 killer,” the game has captivated players worldwide with its stunning visuals and an expansive roster of Marvel superheroes. According to estimates from the Chinese portal GameLook, the game may have generated an impressive $137 million in revenue during its first month.
While this data has not been officially confirmed by NetEase, GameLook’s projections suggest that Marvel Rivals performed exceptionally well across platforms. The Steam version reportedly contributed $54.5 million, PlayStation brought in an estimated $27.2 million, and Xbox earnings stood at around $2.7 million. Combined, the game’s first-month revenue exceeded 1 billion yuan.
The game’s popularity has also been reflected in its player base. Within just 72 hours of launch, Marvel Rivals reportedly amassed over 10 million players, a figure that doubled to 20 million within a week. By January 2025, the game is said to have over 1.5 million monthly active players across all platforms. On January 10, 2025, Marvel Rivals reached a new peak of 644,269 concurrent players on Steam, making it the 14th highest-ranking game for all-time peak players, surpassing titles like Apex Legends and Path of Exile 2.
The release of Season 1, titled Eternal Night Falls, has likely contributed to this surge in popularity. This update introduced new characters from Fantastic Four [Mister Fantastic & Invisible Woman] and brought significant gameplay improvements, which were well-received by fans.
It managed to retain a strong player base. As we analyze the SteamDB daya, it suggests that the game has kept approximately 90% of its players during its first month on Steam. This level of retention has defied earlier predictions from industry experts, including former Blizzard executive Mike Ybarra, who doubted the game’s ability to maintain interest.
Marvel Rivals has announced exciting plans for the upcoming Spring Festival, scheduled for January 23. This event will feature new skins and introduce a soccer game mode. Following Rivals’ recent commitment to release new heroes every month and a half, fans can expect the mid-Season 1 update to arrive just a few weeks after the Spring Festival concludes. This update will add Human Torch and the Thing as playable heroes.
There are reports that Blade will be introduced in Season 2, and fans are also hoping to see characters like Daredevil, Deadpool, and various X-Men characters in the future. Although it remains unclear how NetEase plans to expand the Marvel Rivals roster, the team’s current success suggests they are not slowing down anytime soon.