Marvel Rivals' Season 1 Launch Shatters Steam Player Records
Marvel Rivals has achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 560,000 concurrent players on Steam with the launch of Season 1: Eternal Night Falls, setting a new all-time high. This surge in popularity is fueled by the introduction of exciting new content.
The new season introduces the Fantastic Four as playable heroes, pitting them against Dracula and his forces after he imprisons Doctor Strange and seizes control of New York City. Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman are immediately available, with Human Torch and The Thing slated for a major mid-season update.
Adding to the excitement are new maps, including the Sanctum Sanctorum and Midtown. The Sanctum Sanctorum serves as the backdrop for the season's new Doom Match mode, while Midtown features prominently in a convoy mission.
This impressive player count, verified by SteamDB, underscores the success of Season 1. While overall player numbers across all platforms remain unconfirmed, the Steam figures strongly suggest a highly successful launch. To further incentivize players, a Steam gift card contest is underway, rewarding players for sharing exciting gameplay moments on the game's Discord server.
Building on Previous Success
This isn't Marvel Rivals' first significant achievement. Since its December 6, 2024 launch, the free-to-play title has amassed a substantial player base across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, exceeding 20 million players shortly after its debut. This number is expected to continue growing with the ongoing success of Season 1.
NetEase Games is actively engaging players with generous free content. The Midnight Features event offers a free Thor skin, while Twitch Drops provide a free Hela skin for viewers. The Season 1 Darkhold battle pass also includes free skins for Peni Parker and Scarlet Witch, even without purchasing the premium version. This commitment to providing free, enticing content is clearly a key factor in Marvel Rivals' growing popularity.
