Marvel Rivals dev on why Rivals succeeded and Concord failed – “it didn’t bring any unique value”

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As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the launch of Marvel Rivals has been nothing short of exhilarating! Having witnessed the downfall of Concord just months prior, it’s refreshing to see a hero shooter game that not only delivers on its promise but also brings something unique and enticing to the table.

Marvel Rivals has become a global phenomenon as the latest multiplayer superhero game has drawn in more than 10 million players within just a few days of its launch. Released not long after Sony’s hero shooter Concord, which flopped shortly after its lukewarm debut, Thaddeus Sasser – the director of Marvel Rivals – approached the release of another free-to-play hero shooter with some apprehension.

During a discussion on the VideoGamer Podcast before the launch of Rivals, Sasser was questioned about the surprising demise of PlayStation’s multiplayer release. In contrast to Rivals’ branded superhero approach, the game director contended that Concord didn’t offer any distinctive benefits that would persuade players to switch from games like Overwatch, as it didn’t provide anything particularly unique or appealing.

Marvel Rivals game director on Concord’s “switching cost”

During the interview, Sasser contended that Concord lacked sufficient distinctive appeal to draw players away from Overwatch and comparable games.

The director mentioned, “There’s a cost associated with changing,” referring to the fact that they have already invested in Overwatch and have acquired 15 skins for Farah, indicating their unwillingness to leave.

In today’s competitive gaming market, where studios are closing, games are being cancelled, and titles are receiving negative reviews, it is crucial to win over the audience quickly during a game’s initial phase. However, this doesn’t guarantee success. Although Rivals boasts a large Discord community and had successful closed beta sessions before its release, Sasser remains careful about interpreting the early signs of growth too optimistically.

When developing a game, there’s an underlying anxiety until the public gives their feedback, he admitted. In truth, no one can accurately foretell the success or failure of a game, otherwise, the gaming industry would have taken a drastically different path long ago. Many games are released with high expectations only to fall flat, while others that are expected to fail end up surprising everyone. Consequently, it’s challenging to predict the outcome, and there’s always an element of worry involved.

Many games are released with high expectations, only for them to underperform, or conversely, predicted to fail but turn out to be huge successes.

Thaddeus Sasser

“I believe the secret lies in creating a compelling reason for players to engage with your game, and Marvel Rivals seems to have nailed it with its superhero theme. Personally, when I first heard about this game, I felt an instant desire to embody Storm or Doctor Strange within it – to become those heroes in the game. The concept immediately piqued my interest, sparking ideas of all the exciting possibilities that could come with it. That’s what I believe will draw players in as well – if we do our job right, they’ll enjoy their experience and crave more.

After the successful launch, it’s evident that the Marvel Rivals development team has done an exceptional job. Now, over 10 million players are engaged, and hundreds of thousands play simultaneously, fighting heroes and villains in various universes. The game shows no signs of slowing down. As fresh updates and leaked characters reveal new gameplay opportunities, Marvel Rivals embarks on a thrilling new chapter.

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2024-12-10 15:10