Marvel Rivals Success: Why Sony’s Concord Failed

Marvel Rivals Triumphs Where Sony’s Concord Faltered

Marvel Rivals, a free-to-play hero shooter, enjoyed a phenomenal launch, attracting over 10 million players in its debut weekend. This success stands in stark contrast to Sony’s Concord, a sci-fi shooter that failed to gain traction and was pulled from sale just two weeks after launch.

The Key Difference: Unique Value

Marvel Rivals game director, Thaddeus Sasser, attributes Concord’s failure to a lack of “unique value.” He argues that existing popular shooters, like Overwatch, already hold a significant player base. Switching games requires overcoming a barrier of already invested time and resources. Sasser stated, “There’s a switching cost…I’ve already invested in Overwatch, I’ve got 15 skins for Pharah, I’m not going anywhere.”

Marvel’s Winning Formula: Superhero Appeal

Sasser believes Marvel Rivals’ success stems from its unique selling point: playable Marvel superheroes. The ability to embody iconic characters like Storm and Doctor Strange provides a strong incentive for players to try the game. He noted his own excitement at the prospect, saying, “when I heard the concept of the game I was like ‘Oh my God I want to go be Storm in a game’, ‘I want to go be Doctor Strange in a game’.”