Blizzard Entertainment’s former boss, Mike Ybarra, has bashed Marvel Rivals for copying Overwatch 2. It’s clear that Blizzard is feeling the pressure.

After months of waiting, Marvel Rivals’ is right around the corner. From December 6th, gamers will be able to experience the NetEase title that pits a range of heroes and villains in 6v6 matches in a third-person shooter experience.

Marvel Rivals is one of the most anticipated games of the year. (Image via NetEase Games)

Since its inception, the game has drawn comparisons with its fellow hero-shooter Overwatch 2. Even though Marvel Rivals is based in the same genre, it brings a unique take with its established characters from Marvel comics. However, ex-Blizzard President Mike Ybarra believes that it’s just a shameless clone.

Former Blizzard Boss Believes Marvel Rivals is a Straight Rip-Off

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In Marvel Rivals, there’s one character that’s often talked about: Black Widow. Her gun-based combat and abilities with Sniper Rifle might remind you of Widowmaker from Blizzard’s hero shooter. Sure, there are tons of differences between these characters when it comes to attacks.

However, former Blizzard President Mike Ybarra believes that NetEase is outright copying Overwatch 2 with Black Widow as a character. In a new post on X/Twitter, he noted that the character’s name is quite similar to Widowmaker. What’s worse is that he even compared Marvel Rivals to Light of Motiram, a game that’s under fire for replicating the popular Horizon franchise.

It’s time for a reality check for Ybarra. Black Widow existed even before Blizzard was formed. Even the character’s MCU version debuted way back in 2010, six years before the first Overwatch game hit the shelves in 2016.

Even when you talk about gameplay differences, there’s a lot that separates both characters. For instance, Widowmaker’s ultimate allows her entire team to view enemies through walls. On the other hand, Black Widow’s Electro-Plasma Explosion can disrupt enemies by slowing them down in minefields.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen Blizzard commenting upon NetEase’s title. Even Overwatch 2‘s lead designers, Alec Dawson and Aaron Keller stated they could learn how to improve their game by studying various clones of the hero-shooter, such as Marvel Rivals.

Marvel Rivals Won’t Feature Predatory Monetization Tactics

The hero shooter’s battle pass will take a different path compared to its competitors. (Image via NetEase Games)

Marvel Rivals might share similarities with Overwatch 2, but it doesn’t feature absolutely horrendous monetization practices like the Blizzard game. Gamers who purchase a battle pass using the NetEase title will be able to claim rewards even after the season ends.

On the game’s official website, NetEase stated that those who purchase Luxury Battle Pass don’t need to worry about losing their rewards as they’ll be there in upcoming seasons.

Another thing to note is the battle price. In season 0, it will cost players 490 Lattices or $5, which is a limited-time price due to the season’s short length. The full battle pass in the upcoming seasons will cost $10. Gamers who don’t opt for the free pass will also get an exclusive skin and other unique items.

Unlike its rivals in the genre, the hero-shooter will be completely free to play, and its monetization will be centered around cosmetics. NetEase has stated that the game won’t feature any pay-to-win schemes or extra stats.

With that said, do you think Marvel Rivals is yet another Overwatch 2 clone? Let us know in the comments below.