Overwatch 2 Director on Controversial Decision to Reduce PvE Content

The Overwatch 2 production team explained the controversy about reducing the scale of PvE content announced on the 17th. The scale of development was larger than originally planned, and even at the time of Overwatch 1 service, the development manpower was put into the PvE mode, and concentration fell.

On the 19th (local time), Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller gave details of the decision to stop production of Overwatch 2 PvE mode through the game’s official website. According to this, the original production team had a vision to complete Overwatch as an MMO FPS like Project Titan, which can be called the mother of Overwatch. If Overwatch, which focuses on PvP, is the first step, then the second and last step with the addition of PvE mode is the direction to complete the next-generation MMO.

Therefore, after the first release of Overwatch in 2016, we started developing the PvE part, and for this, more teams were continuously put into work. “Looking back on that moment, I don’t think we were as focused as we needed to be on the released game,” said Keller. In fact, in the case of Overwatch 1, the update gap, such as new heroes, was pointed out as a chronic problem, and this was cited as one of the factors that did not maintain the initial box office flow for a long period of time.

Doing so many things at once distracted me, and while the PvE mode also created new hero traits, new enemies, and missions, it didn’t put together all the elements needed to deliver a polished yet cohesive experience. This made the production team feel like they were dragging an unrealizable plan without progress.

So, why did they announce the cancellation of the PvE mode only now, about six months after the release of Overwatch 2? Regarding this, director Keller said that after the release of Overwatch 2, he tried to find a way to make the target game while refining plans for the next season, but it was impossible, and he could not delay the development of the main server like the first game.

“It was a very difficult decision, but as a director, I think you have to do your best to make decisions that put the game and its users first,” said Keller. I went through a lot of difficulties in the process of getting out of the plan that was not progressing,” she said. “I want to apologize to the users and the production team for this decision. I am really sorry.”

However, as mentioned earlier, PvE content has not completely disappeared. Although the scale has been significantly reduced from the original, a story mode is added through season 6. “Story missions are centered on fast-paced co-op play as well as story, cinematics and cutscenes that expand the Overwatch universe,” said Keller. As a narrative, the story of Overwatch unfolds for the first time since the release of the first game.” The key question arises as to whether these story missions can deliver enough fun to soothe the regret of canceling the PvE mode.