Overwatch 2 And The Future Of The Hero Shooter

Overwatch 2 was announced much too early, likely to pave over controversy at the time surrounding the company and its many scandals. We were given an awkward glimpse at PvE content that wasn’t ready for the spotlight in the slightest, while progression systems linked to certain characters have been dumped entirely in the version coming next month. Blizzard didn’t know what it wanted the sequel to be, and it still doesn’t, so we are stepping hesitantly into a future where I desperately hope this hero shooter can earn its place. The original game is being shut down as it arrives, with its younger sibling intended to replace everything it stood for as heroes, cosmetics, and everything else is carried across as part of a hopefully seamless transition. I’ll miss what is being left behind, and so will many others.

Overwatch defined my first steps into adulthood. I was in my first year of university when it came out, and remember watching my flatmates jump into the beta as they hyped it up as the next big thing. I’d never played a Blizzard game before, and at the time it was an untouchable bastion of goodwill defined by countless classics. Not so much these days . This was its first new IP in decades, and it had all the ingredients to be a masterpiece.

For the first couple of years, Overwatch was unstoppable. Each new hero was a major event, hyped up with months of speculation as players tried to guess who was coming our way next by digging into the game’s files or drawing from small clues left behind by Jeff Kaplan and friends. Sombra, Doomfist, Orisa, Ashe, Ana, Moira, and Brigitte were all big deals, igniting imagination across the fandom with how their relationships intertwined with the existing roster and how their position in the narrative would come to play an important role.


With the release of Overwatch 2 , players have been anticipating the exciting PvE story mode and its new enemies . Unlike the standard 5v5, PvE is a different beast entirely, and teams will have to focus on crowd control and DPS, so maybe your beloved Lúcio or Doomfist might have to warm the bench


Hell, Blizzard should already know this. World Of Warcraft has been going for over 16 years! 16 years without a sequel! Just updates and expansions. It's a business model Blizzard is already familiar with yet it still went along with making Overwatch 2. A decision I can only assume was influenced by the malevolent ruler of Activision, Bobby Kot

In a landscape filled with gruff military dudes and futuristic warfare emerged a bright, colourful, diverse, and experimental game that pushed the genre forward and tried new things in fresh, exciting ways. Each match was fast and rewarding, while its sprawling cast of heroes all connected with players and meant something to them. It was evolutionary, but this innovation would bring with it some irksome industry trends and a complacency that would see Blizzard transform into a company that is now widely despised. How things change.


Overwatch 2 will likely be a success. The original game was just too big of a hit for the game to suffer a Battleborn- esque failure. Even if a lot of players have fallen off in recent times, the allure of a sequel will be too tempting for most to res


Though Hanzo’s sniping may be outdone by Widowmaker’s hitscan rifle, his ability to play mid-range makes him a better pick for offensive modes and maps lacking long sight lines, such as the best map, King’s


When Overwatch 2 was revealed in 2019, I assumed that it had to be nearly finished. Obviously Blizzard was announcing it because it was going to be releasing sometime in 2020. Otherwise, it could risk losing a lot of its popularity. Devoting extra resources to working on a sequel rather than adding content to the current game could cause players to drop off as the updates became less frequent. So it had to be just about ready to come


Compare that situation to that of games like Apex Legends . As someone who hopped over from Overwatch to Apex, I can say that it feels much more alive at the moment thanks to seasonal updates. The maps are always being altered and updated ( and sometimes there's a new one! ), there's a new character every season, and there's plenty of new events, modes, and rewa


Overwatch has consistently been one of the most popular games in the world for the past 3 years. It's still often at the top of the most viewed streams on Twitch, has thousands of players who log on daily, and even has its own eSports lea


A classic tank pick from day one, D.Va has a range of abilities that make her a solid choice for a team. She is armed with Fusion Cannons, which deal a healthy amount of damage at close and medium range. Whilst it's not the strongest source of damage, it can quickly build up her Self-Destruct ultimate, which will see her detonate her mech like a nuke, almost always ensuring a team kill when well-pla

Overwatch’s corporate identity was clear to see through its diverse cast and clear attempts at inclusion, made worse by queer characters who were never given any strong narrative within the world itself. On the surface it was a bold statement, but dig any deeper, and you were left wanting so much more as Blizzard chased demographic approval. Its universe had so much potential for excellent stories and worthwhile sociopolitical commentary, but this clear ambition was brushed aside as the years went on in favour of recycled seasonal events and development of a sequel that is only now lumbering towards the finish line. I once looked up to Overwatch, but now I can’t help but view its failings and cynical business practices for what they really are. I still love so much about it, and the warm memories it brings to the forefront of my mind are clear proof that Blizzard struck gold with this one.