Overwatch 2 Preview – Tweakers

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We’ve had a lot of fun diving into Overwatch 2’s multiplayer mode beta over the past few weeks. The smooth action, updated characters and a new mode all make a good impression. Still, the supporters are divided about Overwatch 2. There are several reasons for this. First of all, there is unrest at the game’s publisher, Activision-Blizzard. The company dominates the headlines, but not with video game news. A lawsuit filed by the US state of California against the company is still pending. The publisher is accused of sexual harassment in the workplace and a toxic work culture. Activision-Blizzard is also in the middle of an acquisition by Microsoft.

Gameplay visuals featuring Sojourn, a new character in Overwatch 2

On the creative level, there is remarkably little going on at the company. It seems that Activision mainly wants to make (mobile) Call of Duty games, while Blizzard is focusing on existing licenses. Blizzard’s stables include Diablo 4, Diablo Immortal and Overwatch 2. Normally that would be happy news, but Blizzard’s status isn’t what it used to be. That’s because of the misery at the top, but also because Blizzard’s famous quality control is apparently on the wane. The WarCraft III remake disappointed immensely and the release of Diablo II: Resurrected was accompanied by major server problems. It doesn’t help that Jeff Kaplan, who spent years at the helm of Overwatch’s development, has left the company.

In addition, it is still unclear to what extent Overwatch 2 is a real sequel, because Blizzard does not want to spread the following over two games. When Overwatch 2 comes out, the multiplayer mode will be completely transferred to the first Overwatch. Players of both games will soon be able to play with and against each other in the same modes and maps. Existing players will also carry their cosmetic skins for characters and other achievements into the sequel. Actually, only the new co-op mode in Overwatch 2 is really exclusive. That co-op can’t be played without buying the second part, but yes, we still know very little about that mode.

Then there’s the state of current Overwatch. After Overwatch 2 was unveiled in 2019, Blizzard more or less stopped adding new content to the original. That means Overwatch hasn’t had any new characters or major new maps in years. Compare that to other popular multiplayer games such as Fortnite and Apex Legends, which have systematically showered players with new content for years. Moreover, the end of the drought is not yet in sight in Overwatch. Fans hoped Overwatch 2 would be released in 2021, but by mid-2022, the game still doesn’t have a release date.

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