There hasn’t been much hype for Overwatch 2. Despite all the press releases, content, and new mechanics, Blizzard has ruined the excitement with massive errors.
Overwatch 2 is essentially a new business model and not the sequel fans have been waiting for. Even the few that are left express their disappointment with the company.
With the release date approaching, will Blizzard have to make drastic changes to keep their fans?
Let’s take a look at the changes Blizzard has made and how estranged fans have reacted to them.
Don’t Miss: Discover Razer’s Ultimate Gaming Laptops Now
Overwatch 2 Beta disappointment
Overwatch 2 got off to a really bad start with all the flaws and issues found in the beta testing. Content creators and professional Overwatch competitors were allowed to try out the beta, but felt it didn’t last the previous Overwatch game.
There were some notable major issues with the beta, including wait times. YouTuber Dunkey called it “Overwatch 1.1” for its “idiotic” role queue with “terrible” queue times.
Several creators also noted the lack of content for the game. Explaining that the game felt less like a sequel and more like a marketing technique. The differences Blizzard made frankly became problems rather than liven up the original game.
Due to the lower number of players in a team, the games also became more aggressive, so that team play was no longer necessary. It also reduced the support role to something that wasn’t really necessary.
Free-to-play sparks outrage among fans
Although the free-to-play aspect sounds great in concept. In practice, it becomes a clustered, complex and soulless way for Blizzard to earn a higher income.
And while it makes sense for a business to want to make money, putting this above your audience is something that doesn’t fit any community.
The free-to-play element removes loot boxes and includes a battle pass for each month. This is starting to evolve from a brilliant, fun game to something that feels like a cheap mobile game.
Their free-to-play model has caused some fans to draw comparisons to live service games like Valorant or Apex Legends. This feels like a step in the opposite direction from the first Overwatch. A full step away from the original game has alienated many fans.
Overwatch 2 Heroes Locked Up Behind Battle Passes
New heroes in Overwatch 2 are locked behind a battle pass. At first reading, this sounds like a shame and like players can’t play new Heroes.
However, Blizzard has announced that all battle passes are free, but players will have to work to unlock these heroes. So…heroes are free, but they aren’t free either.
This has caused a lot of unrest within the community as it will be much harder to get these new heroes than simply buying them with IRL or in-game currency.
The announcement that players can only play in the competitive pool if they own all the champions is also a ridiculous mechanic. With this idea in place, players could take a few years to play every now and then before being able to compete competitively.
5v5 multiplayer
This change was one of the most disruptive to gameplay in Overwatch 2. Instead of a 6v6 squad, Overwatch 2 will have a 5v5 mechanic.
This makes matches shorter and more aggressive, eliminating the desire for the support role. It also confuses the meta of the game, meaning there will be a less diverse roster of heroes in each match.
The role of the tank is also greatly affected by this change. Tanks take the position of a goalkeeper and are often flamed to relieve the stress of other players. With a 5v5 team, two tanks are required to deal damage to DPS players.
This puts a lot more pressure on the roller and means more toxicity is sure to come their way.
Combine this with the way fans are deeply frustrated with this game, and you’re going to struggle for the specialized role in Overwatch 2.
Is Blizzard pulling a dead horse?
The Overwatch hype died down a few years before the Overwatch 2 announcement. It feels like the new Overwatch 2 is just a marketing technique to make Overwatch a popular game again.
However, fans can see this desperate plea for the game’s revival and don’t be fooled by it. With a revenue focus by Blizzard, the fans have been left in the dark with much of the game mechanics working against them.
Because of this, the community is generally annoyed with all of Blizzard’s decisions and I’m sure they’ve lost a good number of fans. I know I am one of them.
0 Comments