As a seasoned gamer with over three decades under my belt, I can’t help but chuckle at the ongoing saga between Blizzard’s former president Mike Ybarra and Marvel Rivals. While it’s true that the hero shooter landscape has been dominated by Overwatch for some time now, it’s a bit of a stretch to call Marvel Rivals a direct copycat.
Previously positioned leader at Blizzard, Mike Ybarra, has voiced disapproval towards Marvel Rivals, alleging that it mirrors Overwatch 2 in design, using a well-known character as evidence to support his claim.
The game Marvel Rivals has been frequently compared to Overwatch, leading its developers at NetEase to clarify the differences between the two titles.
Yet, it appears that neither has been affected, as Ybarra pointed out on Twitter, “It seems Overwatch Marvel Rivals will be shipping tomorrow. Just like Light of Motiram, I believe it’s a replica of Horizon Zero Dawn.” In other words, he is suggesting that Overwatch Marvel Rivals may have similarities to Overwatch in the same way he thinks Light of Motiram mirrors Horizon Zero Dawn.
The ex-president went on to compare fan-favorite characters from each franchise: “I mean even the character name – Widowmaker in OW vs. Black Widow in Marvel Rivals lol. NetEase/TenCent – all the same.”
It appears that Overwatch: Marvel Rivals is set to be delivered tomorrow, much like Light of Motiram (a replica of Horizon Zero Dawn) from China. In fact, it’s quite amusing how similar the character names are – Widowmaker in Overwatch versus Black Widow in Marvel Rivals. It seems NetEase and Tencent share some commonalities in their creations.
— Mike Ybarra 🎄🎅 (@Qwik) December 4, 2024
Black Widow pre-dates Widowmaker by over 50 years
Black Widow, a Marvel comic character, made her debut in Tales of Suspense #52 back in 1964. On the other hand, Widowmaker wasn’t introduced until the initial release of Overwatch in 2016. This means that Black Widow existed for more than half a century before Widowmaker came into being.
The inconsistency resulted in the initial post being flagged with Community Warnings, implying that the ex-Blizzard president was disseminating false information.
It’s possible that Mike Ybarra was discussing the similarities in their gameplay mechanics and skills, but to be honest, there aren’t many shared aspects between them apart from both characters utilizing a sniper rifle and a grappling hook, as demonstrated in the Black Widow’s unveiling video.
In comparison, Widowmaker’s strategy revolves around strategic placement, maintaining vision lines, and building up shot power. On the other hand, Black Widow can shoot instantly, moves more freely, and can even stand her ground during close combat encounters.
The skills of these two characters, Widowmaker and Black Widow, are not alike; whereas Widowmaker can create temporary wall distortions, Black Widow uses her Electro-Plasma Explosion to set off a damaging area that also slows enemies, thereby enhancing their targetability.
If you’re eager to experience Black Widow firsthand, Marvel Rivals is set to launch on December 6, available on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. To learn more about this upcoming hero shooter, explore the details of Season 0 and the complete character roster that you can choose from.
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2024-12-05 17:59