Marvel Rivals has significantly outpaced Sony and Firewalk Studios’ Concord in terms of player engagement, and the difference is striking.
Marvel Rivals Dwarfs Concord’s Beta Player Count
Marvel Rivals’ 50,000 players to Concord’s 2,000
In just two days of its beta launch, NetEase Games’ Marvel Rivals has surpassed Concord’s peak player count by an impressive margin, reaching over 50,000 players. Meanwhile, Concord's peak was a modest 2,388 concurrent players, with Marvel Rivals continuing to soar into five-digit figures without any signs of slowing down.
As of July 25, Marvel Rivals achieved a peak of 52,671 concurrent players on Steam.
It's worth noting that these Steam figures do not account for players on PlayStation, where a significant number of players might also be active. Nonetheless, the dramatic difference in beta performance between the two games has sparked concerns about Concord's future, especially with its official release scheduled for August 23.
Marvel Rivals Thrives, yet Concord Struggles to Find Footing
Despite undergoing both closed and open beta phases, Concord, published by Sony, continues to lag behind, ranking well below numerous indie titles that haven't even announced their release dates on Steam's most-wishlisted chart. Wishlists are a strong indicator of a game's demand, and Concord's lower ranking reflects the lukewarm response to its beta tests. In stark contrast, Marvel Rivals holds a strong position at number 14 on the wishlist chart, alongside titles like Dune: Awakening and Sid Meier's Civilization VII.
Concord's situation is further complicated by the fact that players needed to pre-order the game for $40 to participate in its Early Access beta. While PS Plus members could try it for free, this requires a costly subscription.
The game's open beta, which became available to all players a week later, only managed to increase the peak player count by a thousand.
On the other hand, Marvel Rivals offers a free-to-play model from the outset. Its closed beta simply requires a sign-up, and access is generally granted to those who press "Request Access" under "Join Marvel Rivals Playtest" on the game’s Steam page.
In the already crowded live-service hero shooter market, Concord's high entry price might drive players to seek more accessible alternatives.
Some gamers are skeptical about Concord due to its lack of distinctiveness in an oversaturated market. Unlike Marvel Rivals, which benefits from a well-known IP, Concord struggles to carve out its own identity.
When Sony unveiled Concord's cinematic trailer, its "Overwatch meets Guardians of the Galaxy" aesthetic caught attention. However, many felt it didn't capture the charm of those franchises.
Despite this, the success of other live-service shooters like Apex Legends and Valorant shows that a recognizable brand isn't always necessary to build a substantial player base. Additionally, the example of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which peaked at 13,459 players despite its strong IP, demonstrates that a popular brand alone doesn't ensure success.
While comparing Concord to Marvel Rivals might seem unfair given the latter's more established IP, both being hero shooters highlights the competitive landscape Concord is navigating.
