Players express anger over canceled Overwatch 2 PvE mode

By Fariha Bhatti

|

May 17, 2023

Reading time: 2 min

Overwatch 2 PvE is no more, and players aren’t happy for all the right reasons.

Overwatch 2 was initially announced during Blizzcon in 2019, and everyone wondered why a sequel was needed. That was until Blizzard lifted the curtain on dedicated PvE mode, featuring talent trees for each hero. The unique narrative-driven multiplayer mode had everyone on their toes, but after three long years, the developer has thrown in the towel.

Blizzard has pulled the plug on Overwatch 2 PvE mode to pour all the attention into live game mode.

“You want to build something that really resonates and that people love [….] As the team learned more about what it took to make [the PvE mode], as it learned more about the time, the iteration, and the technology required, it just became clear that the schedule wasn’t going to work,” the developer said.

Blizzard terminates Overwatch 2 PvE mode

OW2 PvE mode

The dedicated hero mode was the primary difference-maker between the old and new game. The developer had announced a progression system that would allow players to unlock new talents, creating a “talent tree” in a story-driven mode. This would have allowed players to take a breather from cut-throat ranked games.

This is a huge bummer for the fans looking forward to a brand-new Overwatch. According to the community, many plans don’t make the cut for the official version of the game, but Hero mode was formally announced as a huge part of Overwatch, and that’s the real problem.

Without PvE, there’s nothing starkly new about Overwatch 2.

https://twitter.com/SamitoFPS/status/1658551852630265857

However, fans are hopeful that the pre-made content will be repurposed into short story missions that Blizzard has announced for Overwatch 2. According to Overwatch 2 executive producer Jared Neuss, big story missions, new cinematics, co-op events, and single-player Hero Mastery missions are all on the way.

So, instead of an open-ended hero mode, players will still be able to experience canon and non-canon story missions featuring their favorite characters. It’s not exactly a grand PvE mode, but it’s still something.

Most players are upset that Overwatch 2 is the same old game now that PvE is out of the picture. But it’s worth waiting for the”big story missions” to see if Blizzard can make up for the broken promise in a reasonable way.

Recommended

What does Prototype look like in Poppy Playtime

The biggest mystery in Poppy Playtime.

By Fariha Bhatti

|

Mar 27, 2024

The Finals power shift

The best builds and loadouts for Power Shift in The Finals

The best way to take control of the platform.

By Olivia Richman

|

Mar 27, 2024

Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals trailer reveals gameplay, heroes, and release date

Combine abilities to create super-charge attacks.

By Olivia Richman

|

Mar 27, 2024