Summary
- Blizzard recognized player feedback and is considering 6v6 tests for Overwatch 2 to address concerns about the 5v5 format.
- Performance issues and queue times could be challenges in implementing 6v6 matches due to technical constraints and hardware limitations.
- Overwatch 2 may explore hybrid team composition formats to offer more flexibility while maintaining structure in gameplay.
With the launch of Overwatch 2, Blizzard made some drastic changes to its hero-shooter game. One of the most significant changes made was dropping the player count from 6v6 to 5v5, with one Tank, two Damage, and two Support heroes on any given team in Role Queue. Overwatch 2's switch to 5v5 helped the game address queue time problems and the "shield meta," but it has proven to be a tricky balancing act, with many Tank players complaining that the game is not as enjoyable as the original and its 6v6 setup.
There has been a great deal of fan demand for Overwatch 2 to switch back to a 6v6 format, but there have also been many who have said that 5v5 is superior. Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller recently confirmed that he would address these demands in a blog post, but worried about how the community would react. Keller has now released his lengthy blog post on the subject, offering fans a great deal of insight into Overwatch 2 5v5 and the 6v6 debate. The big takeaway is that Blizzard is considering running 6v6 tests to see how that would work in Overwatch 2, but fans shouldn't expect that to happen for quite a while.
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According to Keller's blog post, the Overwatch 2 team is "looking at running a series of events to try out different core team composition formats." This means that Blizzard will attempt to test "various forms of 6v6" in the game to see how the community reacts to it. However, there may be technical issues that keep this from happening, or at least, keep it from happening at any point in the near future.
Overwatch 2 Will Attempt to Test 6v6 Matches Eventually
As pointed out by Keller, bumping the Overwatch 2 player count in any given match from 5v5 to 6v6 would potentially cause performance problems due to the upgrades that have been introduced in the game, from new features to more "technically demanding hero kits" to its various visual upgrades. Overwatch 2 exists on older and weaker hardware, like the PS4, Xbox One, and Switch, and so upping the player count could spell problems for those that have yet to upgrade. "While a limited time test could arrive sooner, the team is still investigating exactly how long it would take to permanently increase performance across the game." Keller estimates that it will take "at least several seasons" to accomplish this goal.
Queue times are another concern for the Overwatch 2 team. Keller pointed out that 6v6 led to some queue time problems in the original game that are not present in Overwatch 2, partly thanks to the switch to 5v5. Stuff like this will be tested, of course, and then Blizzard can use that information and community feedback to decide where to go from there.
Keller ended his post by leaving the door open to a world where Overwatch 2 stays 5v5 after the test, switches to 6v6, or even offers both styles of play. Keller also pointed out that 5v5 may not be the real source of contention among players. He said that the team is exploring ways to bring "some of the freedom" back to the game in the 5v5 format without going full-blown open queue. "For instance, we think there could be other ways of putting a team together that aren't quite as rigid as a set composition, but not as loose as Open Queue. We'll be running at least one Quick Play: Hacked based on this idea in Season 13." Overwatch 12 Season 12 starts on August 20, so fans will have to wait months for Season 13 and this new Quick Play: Hacked idea.
Overwatch 2
- Released
- August 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
