Overwatch 2 continues to progress with regular updates and new content being added to the game, but how many players are still engaged?
Like any multiplayer game, Overwatch 2 needs to cultivate a robust player base to compete with other popular online titles such as Fortnite, Warzone, and Apex Legends.
This has proven challenging, especially given the fluctuations in how the PvE mode has been addressed. Nonetheless, thanks to consistent updates and a shift in focus back to PvP, Overwatch 2 has retained a dedicated community of players.
With many gamers exploring various online options, maintaining a healthy player base can be difficult; however, determining the exact player count for Overwatch 2 is quite elusive. Here’s what we know.
Updated September 25, 2024, with player count information.
Overwatch 2 set records shortly after its launch.
Current Player Count in 2024
As reported by Active Player, Overwatch 2 currently has an average of 6,541,742 daily players and has amassed a total of 24,228,673 active users over the past 30 days.
Blizzard does not disclose the exact player counts for all versions of the game, so we rely on third-party sources for estimations.
It’s important to keep in mind that Active Player relies on educated estimations to derive its player counts, providing a reasonable indication but lacking absolute accuracy.
All-Time Player Count
Obtaining an accurate all-time peak player count for Overwatch 2 is difficult due to the absence of publicly accessible data, unless released by Blizzard.
Blizzard disclosed on October 14, 2022, that 25 million players had engaged with Overwatch 2 within the first 10 days of launch. Other than this, the developers have not shared any additional statistics post-launch.
According to statements made in Season 11’s trailer, there are 100 million registered players for the game.
Before transitioning to Overwatch 2, the last known sales figure for Overwatch was 50 million in 2022, and it appears that the free-to-play model has significantly boosted its player base since then.
Is Overwatch 2 Still Active?
While looking at SteamCharts, one might speculate that the game is declining in popularity compared to other shooters. However, remember that these numbers reflect only Steam users.
Since Overwatch is available on multiple platforms and most players utilize Battlenet on PC, the recorded peak of 59,490 players on SteamCharts in the past month likely underrepresents the actual player base.
Overwatch 2’s statistics on Steam might indicate a decline, but this figure is misleading.
We consider Active Player as the closest estimate of the game’s current player count, although this too may not fully reflect reality.
The only definitive way to know the exact number of players in Overwatch 2 would be through official statements from Blizzard, which is unlikely given their reticence about sharing such information.
So, is Overwatch 2 dead? The straightforward answer is no. As discussed, the player counts are likely in the millions weekly, although we lack precise numbers. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to note that other games like Marvel Rivals and Deadlock are emerging as strong competitors.
Comparing Overwatch 2’s Player Count with Other Titles
As a competitive hero shooter, comparing its player base to others is a common inquiry, but again, the lack of definitive figures and Blizzard’s reluctance to share numbers complicates this.
However, we can juxtapose its player statistics on Steam, keeping in mind that Overwatch 2’s player base on this platform may represent just a fraction of the total.
According to SteamCharts, the statistics for the past 30 days are as follows:
| Game | 30-day average |
|---|---|
| Overwatch 2 | 35,782 |
| Counter Strike 2 | 853,663 |
| Team Fortress 2 | 52,889 |
| Apex Legends | 108,100 |
| Call of Duty | 69,674 |
| Rainbow Six Siege | 51,230 |
As mentioned, these figures are exclusively from Steam and may not accurately represent the total player count; they could indicate that Overwatch 2’s player base predominantly does not use Steam.
Battlenet remains the preferred platform for most Overwatch players, while other games, despite being under the Acti-Blizz umbrella, like Call of Duty, have long been accessible on Steam, thus inflating their average and peak player numbers (noting these figures are prior to the release of Black Ops 6).
In conclusion, it’s challenging to ascertain whether Overwatch 2 outpaces its competitors without Blizzard providing detailed player count statistics.
We will keep this page updated monthly to provide the latest Overwatch 2 player count information. For a better perspective, check how Overwatch 2’s player count compares with that of Valorant, or see how many players are engaging with Apex Legends.
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