Marvel Rivals has now dipped under 100,000 average players on Steam, with the total player base shrinking by over 70% since launch.
When Marvel Rivals launched in December 2024, it came out swinging. NetEase’s 6v6 superhero shooter opened strong with massive interest thanks to a slick art style, fast-paced team fights, and a loaded Marvel roster. At its peak, the game hit over 644,000 concurrent players on Steam, making it one of the biggest debuts in recent memory.
In the months since, NetEase has been steadily adding content: seasonal events, limited-time modes, gameplay tweaks, and a steady rollout of new characters like Ultron, Emma Frost, and the Fantastic Four.
But despite the updates, Marvel Rivals hasn’t been able to hold onto the same level of excitement. Player numbers have been dropping month after month, and now we’ve got the clearest picture yet of how far things have slid.
Marvel Rivals Steam Player Count Shows a Major Drop
According to SteamDB, Marvel Rivals has lost over 70% of its peak concurrent players since January 2025. Back then, the game hit a peak of 644,269 players online at once. Now, that number has shrunk to 190,368. That’s a 70.5% drop in peak players, signaling that a huge chunk of the initial audience has stepped away, at least for now.
Here’s the month-by-month breakdown of peak player counts:
- December 2024: 480,990
- January 2025 (Launch Peak): 644,269
- February: 437,915
- March: 307,231
- April: 315,196
- May: 190,368
- Last 30 Days: 190,368
The average player count tells a similar story. In January, the game was averaging over 305,000 players at any given time. In the most recent 30-day window, that number has dropped to just 91,163, which works out to a 70.2% decrease in average activity on Steam.
Here’s the month-by-month breakdown of average player counts:
- December 2024: 301,733
- January 2025 (Average Peak): 305,872
- February: 227,646
- March: 144,889
- April: 134,353
- May: 102,397
- Last 30 Days: 91,163
It’s not uncommon to see player drop-off in live-service games, but the speed and scale of this one has definitely raised eyebrows. Part of the issue seems to be timing: Marvel Rivals is currently wrapping up Season 2.5, which hasn’t done much to reignite interest.
All eyes are now on Season 3, launching July 11, which is expected to introduce monthly hero drops and some much-needed changes. On top of the shrinking player base, the game’s Steam recent review score has slipped to “Mixed,” with the game getting over 100 (sometimes over 200) negative reviews almost every single day.
Many reviews point to frustrating matchmaking, unbalanced heroes, and performance issues. Ranked play in particular has drawn heavy criticism, with several users saying it feels outright broken.
There’s still reason to be hopeful, though. Leaks suggest that there are some exciting characters coming to the game, including Blade, Professor X, Jean Grey, Deadpool, Cyclops, Captain Marvel, Rogue, Valkyrie, Gambit, and more. With a new wave of characters, plus new maps and game modes on the way, NetEase might have a chance to bounce back if it plays things right.
Are you still playing Marvel Rivals, or have you stepped away, too? Do you think Season 3 can bring players back? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
