NetEase's Marvel Rivals has significantly outpaced Sony and Firewalk Studios' Concord in beta player numbers, demonstrating a considerable disparity in player engagement.

Marvel Rivals: A Dominant Beta Performance

A Striking Player Count Difference: 50,000 vs. 2,000

Within just two days of its beta launch, Marvel Rivals boasted over 50,000 concurrent players, dwarfing Concord's peak of 2,388. This impressive figure, reaching five digits and showing continued growth, highlights a significant difference in initial player reception. As of July 25th, Marvel Rivals' Steam peak reached 52,671 concurrent players. It's important to note this Steam count excludes PlayStation players, a potentially substantial portion of the total player base. However, the disparity remains striking and raises concerns about Concord's prospects, especially with its release date approaching on August 23rd.

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

Even after its closed and open beta phases, Concord continues to lag, significantly underperforming numerous indie titles on Steam's most-wishlisted chart. This low ranking indicates weak pre-release interest. In stark contrast, Marvel Rivals enjoys a prominent position within the top 14, alongside established titles like Dune: Awakening and Sid Meier's Civilization VII.

Concord's struggles are compounded by its $40 Early Access beta price tag, limiting accessibility. While PS Plus members received free access, this requires a paid subscription, creating a further barrier. The open beta, despite being free, only saw a thousand additional players.

In comparison, Marvel Rivals' free-to-play model and readily available beta access (via a simple Steam request) likely contributed to its success.

The competitive hero shooter market is already saturated. Concord's pricing strategy may have pushed potential players towards alternatives.

Many gamers express skepticism towards Concord, citing its lack of a distinct identity in a crowded market. Unlike Marvel Rivals, which benefits from a well-known IP, Concord struggles to establish its own unique appeal. While initially described as a blend of Overwatch and Guardians of the Galaxy, many feel it lacks the charm of either franchise.

However, the success of titles like Apex Legends and Valorant demonstrates that a strong IP isn't always crucial for player base growth. Conversely, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's peak of 13,459 players proves that a powerful IP alone isn't a guarantee of success.

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