Marvel Rival Beta Breaks Records: Surpasses Concord Player Count

NetEase Games' Marvel Rivals has dramatically outpaced Sony and Firewalk Studios' Concord in player numbers during their respective beta tests. The disparity is substantial and raises questions about Concord's prospects.

Marvel Rivals Dominates Concord in Beta Player Count

A Striking 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. Marvel Rivals' player base continues to grow rapidly. As of July 25th, its Steam peak reached 52,671 concurrent players. It's important to note this figure excludes PlayStation players, a potentially significant portion of Concord's audience. However, the contrast highlights serious concerns for Concord's upcoming release on August 23rd.

Marvel Rivals Flourishes While Concord Faces Challenges

Even after its closed and open beta phases, Concord continues to struggle, lagging behind many indie titles on Steam's wishlist chart. This low ranking reflects the lukewarm reception of its beta tests. Conversely, 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 struggles are exacerbated by its $40 Early Access beta price tag, excluding many potential players. While PS Plus subscribers had free access, this requires a paid subscription. The open beta, accessible to all, only saw a modest thousand-player increase.

In stark contrast, Marvel Rivals is free-to-play, with beta access readily available through a simple Steam request.

The Competitive Hero Shooter Market and Concord's Challenges

The hero shooter genre is highly competitive, and Concord's pricing strategy may have alienated potential players. Unlike Marvel Rivals, which leverages a powerful and recognizable IP, Concord lacks a distinct identity. While its "Overwatch meets Guardians of the Galaxy" aesthetic initially attracted attention, it failed to capture the charm of either franchise.

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

While comparing Concord to Marvel Rivals might seem unfair given the latter's established IP, both games operate within the same competitive market, highlighting the challenges Concord faces.