Overwatch 2 has had a tumultuous history. Since its launch back in 2022, there have been a series of ups and downs for Blizzard's hero shooter. Marketed as a brand-new era for the series, Overwatch 2 has continued to be embroiled in controversy because of divisive developer decisions, but recent words from game director Aaron Keller could be pointing toward a silver lining.

Talking to PCGamesN at this year's Gamescom, Keller made some exciting statements regarding the future of Overwatch 2. When asked about the game's dicey reputation, Keller responded, "[That reputation] is one of the reasons we're taking bigger swings." With Season 18 underway, Overwatch 2 is continuing to evolve, and the fact that Keller acknowledges the unhappiness of some fans is a promising sign that efforts are being made to change, but there still may be rough waters ahead.

Overwatch 2 is Embracing Trying New Things, But the Unpredictable Scrapping of Game Modes Needs to End

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Stadium Enters the Chat, While Hero Mastery is Kicked to the Curb

Stadium was one of the main topics Keller discussed when talking about Overwatch 2's future. He stated, "The team is definitely willing to try new things and to see what sorts of experiences we can put into Overwatch. Right now we're focused on competitive PvP experiences, and we also need to make sure that [new] things that we do fit into the framework of the game. We do need to keep an identity."

While Stadium has been an exciting addition to Overwatch 2, fellow mode Hero Mastery will meet its end in Season 19. So, right now, even though Keller's words about embracing creative solutions and being willing to take risks are an intriguing promise, the cancellation of Hero Mastery sours the excitement a bit. Of course, Hero Mastery wasn't exactly the most popular mode, but Blizzard shutting down certain modes has continued to be a controversial decision over the years. Modes like Two Control Point have only been made available via the Arcade, while the biggest fire Blizzard has had to put out is the cancellation of PvE. However, shutting down modes like Hero Mastery and Two Control Point may be necessary for Overwatch 2 to make room for story-driven content.

overwatch 2 hero mastery game mode discontinued season 19

Stadium was added to Overwatch 2 back in April alongside Season 16.

The team is definitely willing to try new things and to see what sorts of experiences we can put into Overwatch.

Keller's Past Comments Hint at a Return to Storytelling

Back in July, Keller discussed Overwatch 2's controversy with its canceled PvE mode with IGN, hinting that the dev team may still have ambitions to bring story-focused content front and center. He said, "To speak frankly about it, we did have a big plan to go after story in the game. That was the PvE side of it with the campaign and everything like that. That didn’t work out. So, it was kind of a bit of a reset moment for us when that happened, and we would like to get back to it."

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Like his statements at Gamescom, this is promising, and it shows that the devs are paying attention to player feedback. However, with modes being shut down often, there is still the possibility that PvE and story-focused content could once again be shelved like past modes. It's hard to truly get excited about these hints at new Overwatch 2 content when they could be shelved seemingly out of nowhere.

In Season 18, Stadium has added Winston, Brigitte, and Pharah.

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Of course, only time will tell if Overwatch 2 is able to nail whatever its experimental content turns out to be. Modes like Stadium are strong steps in the right direction, but if the game ever returns to expanding its story and lore, it hopefully won't continue to be caught in the cycle of being set aside.

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Overwatch 2 Tag Page Cover Art
6 /10

Overwatch 2
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Shooter
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 65%
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Released
August 10, 2023
ESRB
T For Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco, Violence
Developer(s)
Blizzard
Publisher(s)
Blizzard
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WHERE TO PLAY

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DIGITAL
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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.

Engine
Proprietary Engine
Genre(s)
Shooter