Concord Failed Because It ‘Didn’t Bring Any Unique Value,’ Says Marvel Rivals Director

In a saturated industry like hero shooters, something special is necessary to stand out and capture the attention of players, who can no longer afford to spread their time across too many live-service experiences. This is the vision of Thaddeus Sasser, game director of Marvel Rivals, who believes that unlike other games such as Concord, his is seeing impressive numbers thanks to features that are hard to find in other titles.

Lack of Uniqueness in Concord

“Concord didn’t bring any unique value to players that would get them to move from games such as Overwatch,” Sasser explained in a recent interview. “There’s a switching cost. I’ve already invested in Overwatch, I’ve got 15 skins for Pharah, I’m not going anywhere. I think the trick is that you need to have that reason that people want to come and play your game and I think Marvel Rivals does that exactly with the superhero..”

He added, “I don’t know about you, but for me, the cool thing is being able to play as Storm or Doctor Strange. Being able to control those heroes is awesome. That’s what draws people in. If we’ve done our jobs well, they’ll love what they play an they’ll want to play some more.”

The Road Ahead for Marvel Rivals

Concord has often been criticized for its lack of originality, and Sasser highlights that as a significant issue. It’s difficult to attract players who’ve already invested time and money in similar experiences. However, the unique roster of heroes in Marvel Rivals sets it apart. Still, that alone won’t keep players engaged in the long term. The studio will need to deliver high-quality post-launch content and continue to listen to fan feedback to maintain the momentum.