Ever since Marvel Rivals launched last December, it’s been hit with well-founded accusations of ripping off Overwatch. From gameplay modes to hero kits, NetEase’s superhero shooter is chock-full of what feel like direct pulls from Blizzard’s trailblazing game. But now that Marvel Rivals has been out long enough for Overwatch 2 to be learning from it, the rip-off accusations have come full circle. The latest target of such critiques is Overwatch 2’s new hero Vendetta, who Marvel Rivals fans argue is similar to one of its heroes because she…uses a big sword, I guess.
Though the realities of how long it takes to develop content for Overwatch 2 are at odds with a lot of these claims, the internet loves a narrative. If Blizzard introduces a third-person mode a few months after Marvel Rivals launches, those committed to misunderstanding how video game development works will hoop and holler about how Blizzard is chasing NetEase’s success, despite Overwatch 2’s third-person Stadium mode having been in development far longer than the few months its competitor had been on the market.
Now, however, it’s been long enough that Overwatch 2 can introduce a character or concept that could have conceivably been pulled from Marvel Rivals, and fans are accusing Vendetta, with her sword-based fighting style and mobility skills, of being modeled on Magik from NetEase’s game. Others, meanwhile, are pointing out that “lady with big sword” is hardly a trademarked concept, and arguing that Overwatch and Marvel Rivals should be learning from each other.
Someone’s going to say Overwatch copied Marvel Rivals when they see Vendettas gameplay aren’t they pic.twitter.com/bg2TDmHika
— Frankiep423 (@frankiep423) November 20, 2025
“copy my homework, just dont make it obvious”
the homework: pic.twitter.com/BiThZ3qibd
— Andrew (@whyAndr3w) November 21, 2025
Literally Magik gameplay 😭 https://t.co/eEBJnveNw9
— 𐌀Ᏽ𐌀𐌌Ꝋ𐌕𐌕Ꝋ (@AgamottoSupreme) November 20, 2025
Yeah because Rivals totally invented the “woman with big sword” concept. Marvel Rivals player are SO stupid it’s unreal. https://t.co/2EsuKr5BQV
— Necros (@necros_ow) November 20, 2025
I think its fair that overwatch can steal from rivals seeing as they stole more than half of their heroes from overwatch https://t.co/3iRhRPaFYt
— Sporple 🦩 (@Slorpler) November 21, 2025
marvel rivals players see a woman with a sword for the second time in their life pic.twitter.com/00jUMxTCQi
— Sporple 🦩 (@Slorpler) November 21, 2025
Marvel Rivals 🤝 Overwatch
Having badass hot women wielding big swords pic.twitter.com/4INKHmFNCW
— PridefulSin ❕ (@ReignOfPride) November 20, 2025
Marvel Rivals was pretty much doomed to be called an Overwatch clone, so even as its fans are getting their own jabs in, this narrative is probably always going to follow both games. Marvel Rivals just launched Gambit, and the strategist’s kit is earning him comparisons to characters like Overwatch 2’s Wuyang, even though the character was leaked long before Wuyang joined the other game’s roster. But that’s pretty common with any two games with a public rivalry. Call of Duty and Battlefield are always pitted against each other, with each new entry learning from the previous year’s successes and failures, and implementing features that look suspiciously like something the other has done.
