"And just like that, after over 8 years of ups and downs, Paladins bows out as Marvel Rivals overtakes Overwatch 2 to rule the genre."
Paladins is struggling. It has always been the “second best” hero shooter and, for many years, the only free alternative to Overwatch.
However, with Overwatch going free-2-play and Marvel Rivals becoming the largest hero shooter on the market, Paladins has slumped to a distant third place, with roughly 1% of the number of active players enjoyed by Marvel Rivals and less than 10% that of its former rival Overwatch (2), even as the former king of the genre prepares to reinvent itself after being blindsided and dethroned by the popular marvel shooter.
While Overwatch can and most likely will recover and potentially reclaim the throne, Paladins is done for, and everyone, including No publisher available, knows it. As a result, most of the development team was laid off, and all ongoing development was halted in early 2025.
No, Paladins has lost its way and relied too heavily on sexualised female characters over making a game with wide market appeal; while some try to deny it and fight against it tooth and nail, the industry is changing for the better, and games that rely almost exclusively on making female characters sexy will continue to struggle in the months and years ahead, regardless of who is in the White House.
While some dismiss being concerned about the way female characters as portrayed as being “woke”, causing others to lust, and in fact, lusting after even fictional women is not only unhealthy but spiritually dangerous, with Jesus Christ having this to say on the matter.
In short, Paladins does not have a future, and given what it has become, I cannot say I will miss it.But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. - Matthew 5:28-30
Issues with its portrayal of female characters aside, Paladins was a decent enough free alternative to Overwatch. Still, with the entire development team being laid off or reassigned, there is no reason to play Paladins in 2025 or beyond.
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