Marvel Rivals’ Beta Surpasses Concord’s Player Count in Just Two Days

NetEase Games' Marvel Rivals has achieved a remarkable feat, significantly outpacing Sony and Firewalk Studios' Concord in player numbers during their respective beta phases. The disparity is striking.

Marvel Rivals Dominates Concord in Beta Player Count

A Massive Player Count Difference

Within just two days of its beta launch, Marvel Rivals boasted over 50,000 concurrent players on Steam, dwarfing Concord's peak of approximately 2,388. This impressive figure for Marvel Rivals, which continues to grow, raises significant questions about Concord's prospects, especially with its official launch rapidly approaching on August 23rd. It's important to note that the Steam count excludes PlayStation players, a potentially substantial segment of Concord's audience.

As of July 25th, Marvel Rivals' peak concurrent player count on Steam reached 52,671.

Contrasting Fortunes: Marvel Rivals' Success vs. Concord's Struggles

Even after its closed and open beta periods, Concord continues to struggle, lagging behind numerous indie titles on Steam's most-wishlisted chart. This low ranking highlights the underwhelming reception of its beta tests. In stark contrast, Marvel Rivals enjoys a prominent position within the top 14 most-wishlisted games, alongside titles like Dune: Awakening and Sid Meier's Civilization VII.

Concord's performance is further hampered by its $40 Early Access price tag for beta participation, excluding those without a PS Plus subscription. Even after the open beta, player numbers increased only marginally.

Marvel Rivals, being free-to-play, offers significantly wider accessibility. While a sign-up is required for the closed beta, access is generally easy to obtain.

The competitive hero shooter market is already saturated, and Concord's pricing strategy may have driven players towards free alternatives.

Some critics point to Concord's lack of a distinct identity in a crowded market as a contributing factor to its underperformance. Unlike Marvel Rivals, which leverages a powerful and recognizable IP, Concord struggles to establish its own unique appeal. While initially compared to Overwatch and Guardians of the Galaxy, many feel it fails to capture the charm of either franchise.

However, the success of games like Apex Legends and Valorant proves that a strong IP isn't always necessary for building a large player base. Conversely, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's comparatively modest peak of 13,459 players shows that a well-known IP alone doesn't guarantee success.

While comparing Concord and Marvel Rivals might seem unfair due to the latter's established IP, both being hero shooters highlights the intensely competitive landscape Concord faces.