In 2019 Blizzard introduced Overwatch 2, an overhauled model of the unique recreation bursting on the seams with the story-rich player-versus-environment content material followers had been asking for because the authentic recreation’s launch. In 2022 Overwatch 2 lastly got here out…as a free-to-play title, missing the cooperative mode so closely featured on the Blizzcon debut, promising gamers would see it added later whereas the staff battle mode launched. Now Blizzard has admitted it’s not going to launch a PVE mode for Overwatch 2 in any respect.
In an interview with Gamespot, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller mentioned that the sport would characteristic “part of what the team has set out to do, but not the entirety of what was discussed back at BlizzCon 2019.” Future “seasons” of Overwatch 2 content material will embrace some PvE story missions, as the unique recreation did, however the devoted co-op Hero mode with dynamic character and talent development is off the desk. Overwatch 2, like Overwatch earlier than it, will likely be nearly completely centered on its team-versus-team shooter mode.
And with the co-op mode’s loss of life, maybe the most important change between Overwatch and Overwatch 2 is its unasked-for new monetization system—which is loads much less player-friendly now than it was.
Waiting for tales that may by no means be instructed
A vocal portion of Overwatch gamers previous and current aren’t proud of the information. Overwatch 2 is each a sequel and a substitute for the unique recreation — the unique Overwatch is now not playable, regardless of promoting over 50 million copies. Overwatch 2 was “sold” (if you should use the time period for a free-to-play recreation) to its viewers as an improve, largely predicated on this new PvE mode that may carry contemporary content material and storytelling to a world that had turn out to be stagnant after including so many contemporary, vibrant parts. Now we’ll by no means see that story content material, or at the least, we’ll solely see a really small portion of what was promised.
Activision-Blizzard
This exacerbates the primary issues that I had with Overwatch 2 back at launch: That it’s utilizing some completely superb character and manufacturing design, animation, and voice work, and by no means letting these characters inform a narrative past a little bit of skinny lore. Overwatch characters can‘t inform tales in the primary team-based mode, as a result of they’re infinitely variable and replayable. They mainly deal with the characters as a child’s motion figures, smashing them collectively for the gameplay with none additional targets.
That’s fantastic for a recreation that’s solely a staff shooter (or, certainly, a automobile for a multi-billion-dollar esports league). But for a recreation that retains teasing us with character-focused animated shorts, it’s infuriating. The first trailer for the unique Overwatch arrange a really GI Joe-esque battle between the Overwatch “good guys” and Talon “bad guys,” and the Overwatch 2 announcement trailer teased epic cooperative fights in opposition to an implacable computer-controlled foe. Both of these trailers now really feel like dishonest representations of the video games we really obtained.
See all these characters with histories and relationships, working collectively to guard neo-Paris from an enormous mecha? Good, since you’ll by no means see it in Overwatch 2 gameplay.
Keller says that at the least a few of that story content material remains to be being deliberate. In Season 6 of Overwatch 2, single-player “Hero Mastery” mini-modes and three completely different occasion modes will likely be a part of “this large narrative the place gamers do get to seek out out extra about Overwatch, they usually do get to seek out out extra about what’s taking place on the earth and what’s taking place with a variety of the characters within the recreation.” Keller additionally describes new cinematics and a lore codex…however cinematics and lore weren’t one thing the sport was missing. A devoted medium for telling a narrative, one which doesn’t reset after ten minutes of taking pictures, was.
The free-to-play bait-and-switch
And that’s simply the disappointing a part of the gameplay and story. The different large change to Overwatch 2 was a shift to a free-to-play mannequin, one which gamers didn’t ask for and didn’t obtain gracefully. Arguably the unique Overwatch felt considerably like a free-to-play recreation (with a $40 price ticket) because of its stingy randomized loot field system. But the remixed F2P mannequin of Overwatch 2 locked the complete roster of interchangeable heroes, the signature characteristic of the unique Overwatch, behind purchases and battle passes. It’s roughly the identical as League of Legends, or any variety of free-to-play multiplayer cellular video games you’d care to say.
In hindsight, it looks as if the launch of Overwatch 2 and the top of the unique recreation was a choice made nearly completely to power a free-to-play mannequin on current gamers, whereas bringing in new gamers to inject money to the endless stay service mannequin. As a mega-fan of the unique recreation, who’s been determined for brand spanking new and substantive story content material for years, it’s onerous to see this as something however a betrayal.
Activision-Blizzard
The executives answerable for Overwatch can say all they need about focusing assets and participant expertise. It’s clear that Overwatch now exists to service its in-game retailer, to not ship a fascinating expertise to gamers. Perhaps it was naive to count on the rest as soon as the free-to-play construction of the sport was revealed…however that wasn’t made clear till years after the PvE mode was so closely featured at Blizzcon, even going as far as to be a playable demo for attending followers and media.
With Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo, Blizzard constructed a legacy on a long time of video games with unbelievable high quality and among the greatest tales ever instructed within the medium. Overwatch was bought on that popularity, a brand new property and universe from a developer that provides them out so sparingly. But the story facet of the equation by no means balanced out, and isn’t enthusiastic about making an attempt anymore. Between this damaged promise, and a marked lower in each high quality and worth with current releases, Blizzard’s legacy has by no means appeared extra in peril—an ominous signal with Diablo IV set to launch in mere weeks.