[Opinion] Marvel Rivals' Success and Mike Ybarra's Hypocrisy: A Turning Point for the Gaming Industry

Marvel Rivals, NetEase’s new hero shooter, has been making waves. Released on December 6th, it quickly peaked at nearly 450,000 concurrent players on Steam over opening weekend. It’s a historic moment for Chinese game developers in the worldwide industry.

Nevertheless, not everyone is celebrating. Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra made headlines with a now-deleted tweet in which he accused Marvel Rivals of being a clone of Overwatch. He also blasted Tencent’s Light of Motiram, calling it a clear copy of Horizon Zero Dawn. Ybarra’s critique has backfired, creating questions about Blizzard’s own ability to truly innovate.

Ybarra’s Tweet

"Looks like Overwatch Marvel Rivals ships tomorrow. Much like Light of Motiram (a clear copy of Horizon Zero Dawn) out of China. I mean, even the character name—Widowmaker in Overwatch vs. Black Widow in Marvel Rivals lol—NetEase/Tencent—all the same."

This comment, however, was swiftly countered by the community. A community note on the deleted post said that Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) is a Marvel character who has a history going back to 1964, decades before Overwatch was ever a thing. If anyone borrowed from anyone, it was Blizzard borrowing from Marvel and not the other way around.

Many find Ybarra's statement ironic, as Blizzard also often takes inspiration from existing games. The latest case to date being the introduction of World of Warcraft's “Dynamic flight”, which heavily borrows from Guild Wars 2's mechanics. Strangely enough, Mike Ybarra was not exasperated on this point. Overwatch itself, at his time, significantly copied the hero-based formula from games like Team Fortress 2. All this goes to show how the "copy and improve" approach is explicitly Blizzard's mantra, and Ybarra’s criticism is a little hypocritical (if not ridiculous).

The rise of the Chinese games industry

Interestingly, this comment also highlights another phenomenon. Up until recently, some tended to perceive Chinese games as “empty shells”, packaged in beautiful trailers, with a lot of care put into marketing them, but the final product was often disappointing. However, the latest releases seem to indicate that this stereotype is no longer true.

 

To exemplify this evolution, Jay Ong from Marvel Games has named Marvel Rivals as one of their “most ambitious game development projects”. Its smooth gameplay, enthusiastic playerbase, and record-breaking launch underscore the appeal of this generation of Chinese games. Likewise, Tencent’s Light of Motiram, also accused by Ybarra of being derivative, has generated a fair amount of curiosity.

Some Chinese studios seem to have evolved from copying of successful formulas to improving them. The outcome might be a fresh selection of games that can match or improve upon genre standards. The fact that hundreds of thousands of players play Marvel Rivals shows the Chinese industry’s work towards this fresh approach.

Blizzard’s stagnation

Ybarra’s criticism of Chinese studios inadvertently highlights Blizzard’s stagnation in recent years. Once recognized as a leading game developer, Blizzard has been increasingly criticized for lacking innovation. Titles like Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 got good receptions, but largely rely on existing mechanics and ideas in the franchise without bringing anything new to the table. Quite ironic, isn't it, Mike?

This cautiousness in creative risktaking has made Blizzard vulnerable to competitors who are willing to push boundaries. While for the time being Blizzard remains the gaming giant we know,  their reluctance to evolve has created opportunities for others to fill the gap.

A taste of their own medicine

Now, with the rise of Chinese studios like NetEase and Tencent (which is the largest game company and publisher in the world overall), Blizzard finds itself on the receiving end of the very tactics it once employed. The fact that Ybarra seems uncomfortable with this has added more fuel to the fire, reinforcing the narrative that Blizzard is struggling to maintain its dominance in a continuously competitive market.

A wake-up call

Success with Marvel Rivals and the broader rise of Chinese game development could herald a sea change in the making of games. For Western developers, the need to renew themselves is real. This means not only embracing technological advancement, but most importantly, reassessing their way of doing creative work.

The road ahead is crystal clear for Blizzard: get back to the pioneering spirit that once marked this company. Whether that takes the form of bold new intellectual properties or in reinvigorating existing franchises, they have the resources and talent to do it. First, though, they need to grasp the changing landscape and the challenges thrown up by more innovative contenders.

As for Marvel Rivals, the success speaks for itself. This title captured the attention of millions, proving that quality is no longer exclusive to Western developers. Whether it can last as long as Blizzard's classics remains to be seen, but as things stand, the game is proof of the progress and potential of Chinese game development. In the end, maybe Ybarra's comments can be that moment of clarity that will awaken not just Blizzard but the industry in its entirety.