Overwatch
Overwatch
LE SSERAFIM skins make a comeback in Overwatch 2
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
To celebrate LE SSERAFIM’s music video milestone, Overwatch 2 has brought back the popular crossover skins. The LE SSERAFIM skins commemorate the LE SSERAFIM’s “Perfect Night” video, nearing 100 million views on Youtube. The LE SSERAFIM skins were first released on November 2, 2023, as part of Overwatch 2’s initial K-pop crossover event. This event featured a special performance at BlizzCon 2023 and introduced the Concert Clash game mode. Furthermore, …
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 dev blog confirms the return of 6v6 format
William Davis
Overwatch 2 is essentially a replica of its predecessor, except for the absence of the 6v6 format. However, it seems Blizzard may bring that back as well. In a lengthy Overwatch 2 dev blog post, Aron Keller has explained why the developer decided to remove 5v5 in the first place. While the removal was initially met with criticism, new players have adjusted to the format update. Seasoned Overwatch 2 players, …
Overwatch
All we know about Juno, Overwatch 2’s upcoming support hero
Fariha Bhatti
The latest Overwatch 2 hero Juno is a happy-go-lucky space ranger from Mars who doesn’t mind sharing her agility and abilities with her teammates. Earlier teased by Blizzard as a highly mobile “space ranger” with quite a bit of vertical mobility, Juno has finally been revealed. The latest support hero has deep roots in the game’s lore, as players suspect she may be tied to Jiaya, a scientist and Mei’s …
Overwatch
Massive tank changes coming to Overwatch 2
Olivia Richman
Tanks are going to see some big changes in Overwatch 2 very soon. In a recent Director’s Take, Blizzard discussed upcoming hero balances, focused on some game changing updates to tank heroes. This is due to developers seeing a lot of Overwatch 2 players discussing issues with the tank role. Ever since Season 8 ended, the tank role has been in a “tough spot.” The largest complaint is that tanks …
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 players in panic as Mythic skins disappear from game
Fariha Bhatti
Overwatch 2 players are frustrated after mysteriously losing their Mythic skins. Why did the Overwatch 2 Mythic skins disappear? Here’s what we know. On May 14, Blizzard Entertainment released a mid-season patch for Season 10 that buffed specific tanks and DPS heroes. However, shortly after the update, players reported being disconnected mid-game or experiencing game crashes. This led to a quick investigation from Blizzard, who assured that a fix would be …
Overwatch
Gamers think Marvel Rivals map is an Overwatch 2 clone
Olivia Richman
The similarities between Overwatch 2 and newcoming shooter Marvel Rivals was already many but a recent map reveal had gamers confident that the superhero shooter is taking the copying a bit far. Marvel Rivals will have two teams made up of superheroes and villains combining their abilities to overtake the enemy squad and dominate the map in a variety of shooter game modes that fans felt looked a lot like …
Overwatch
Is Overwatch 2 getting a hero ban system?
Olivia Richman
Blizzard has started discussing the possibility of a hero ban system in competitive Overwatch 2 but it may not look how players expect. Games like League of Legends and Dota 2 have a champion or hero pick-and-ban system in ranked and pro tournaments to create more dynamic gameplay. Top players are often forced to select another hero after their favorite is removed as an option, producing a different team composition …
Overwatch
Venture lore revealed in Overwatch 2
Olivia Richman
Blizzard has just revealed the backstory behind Venture, and fans are digging it. Venture is the newest hero, just released today, along with the rest of Season 10. We learned a while back that they were an aggressive and mobile DPS focused on digging underneath the map. But who really is Venture, and how did they get involved with Overwatch? Venture’s Adventure Hero Trailer was released today on Overwatch 2’s …
Overwatch 2 Season 10 brings Mirrorwatch, Venture, Mythic skins
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 Season 10 is coming tomorrow, and the patch notes are here. Read on to find out more about hero balance changes, Venture’s arrival, and a new limited-time mode. The first change outlined in the patch notes is hero balancing. A lot of heroes are getting some changes to their abilities that will help keep them competitively viable without being OP as Venture joins the roster. TankDoomfistRocket PunchThe empowered …
Venture is coming to Overwatch 2 this weekend
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 fans are getting hyped for Season 10, especially for the arrival of Venture. But you won’t have to wait until Season 10 to play the new DPS hero. Here’s how to play Venture this weekend. Venture is the next hero to join the ever-growing roster, a non-binary brawler focused on using drilling to shield themselves and increase mobility. The concept has excited Overwatch 2 fans since it’s never …
Overwatch 2 PvE is canceled completely
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 players have been wondering about the future of PvE ever since developers didn’t deliver what was promised. Now it seems it’s canceled for good after all. Overwatch 2 came under fire last year when it announced that the PvE mode promised at BlizzCon, which was essentially going to be a single-player campaign, was no longer viable. Blizzard explained that it was instead going to provide players with three …
Overwatch 2 devs talk pick and ban system
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller recently shared some future plans or ranked gameplay, including a possible pick and ban system. In an interview with Dexerto, Keller discussed the possibilities coming to ranked gameplay. To keep competitive fresh, Keller explained that the team has a vision to add “newer updated systems, shaking up PvP, rank resets, and new rewards.” On top of this, however, was talk of a potential pick …
Overwatch 2 Season 10 unlocks all heroes
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 Season 10 is getting more and more exciting for gamers. On top of a new DPS hero and impactful ranked changes, there is also a much-asked-for update when it comes to expanding your roster. In the most recent developer update, it was announced that all future heroes added to Overwatch 2 will no longer be part of the Battle Pass. Instead, new heroes will be free. On March …
Overwatch 2 patch brings back classic LTM
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 is often criticized for lacking some of the features that made the original game so special. The March 18 Overwatch 2 patch has brought back some of that nostalgia. But no, it’s not six-player teams. Quick Play: Hacked has returned to Overwatch 2. When this happens, Sombra “hacks” Quick Play, introducing a new game mode for a limited time. This time, Sombra’s hack has seen the return of …
Calavera Reaper bundle Twitch Drop returns
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Overwatch 2’s mid-season patch brought big hero changes but it also gave players a new Twitch Drop in the form of the Calavera Reaper bundle. The Calavera Reaper bundle has returned, bringing back an iconic look for the dark mercenary. If you want to get your hands on this bundle, you’ll need to spend a bit of timing tuning into Twitch streams. Here’s how to get it for yourself. From …
Overwatch 2 x Cowboy Bebop crossover skins revealed
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 is getting ready for its second anime crossover. This time, Cowboy Bebop skins emotes, and other cosmetics are coming to Blizzard’s shooter — including some free stuff. A trailer was recently dropped that officially announced the arrival of Cowboy Bebop in Overwatch 2. The stylized trailer showed popular Overwatch heroes reimagined as Cowboy Bebop characters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS480mqndzQ The confirmed heroes getting Cowboy Bebop cosplay looks include: Cassidy – Spike …
Overwatch 2 players no longer have to aim after Season 9 update
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 Season 9 came with some shocking gameplay changes that have left the community in shambles. This includes heroes shooting bigger bullets, leading competitive players to claim you no longer need to aim. In the new era of Overwatch 2, every hero has self healing and the bullets are bigger — and players are largely not pleased after seeing the changes in action. After becoming concerned with the bigger …
Why is Overwatch pro Proper banned?
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Top Overwatch 2 pro Dong-Hyum “Proper” Kim has been banned from the game. Fans are now wondering what happened. Before the Overwatch League ended, Proper was competing with the San Francisco Shock. He is the only player in the history of the OWL to be named Regular Season MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Role Star in a single season. Now, Proper is considered one of the best pro Overwatch …
Overwatch 2 player banned for saying “GG” and “BAMF”
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
An Overwatch 2 player has been banned over seemingly innocent in-game communication. Blizzard has been known to be quite strict when it comes to monitoring voice chat in an attempt to punish toxic players. This usually means slurs, swear words, insults, and more. But one Overwatch 2 player has revealed that they were banned for “being a positive person.” On Reddit, the player showed screenshots from their interaction with Blizzard. …
Blizzard facing age discrimination lawsuit
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Activision is facing another lawsuit, this time related to an age discrimination accusation. A former Activision executive has sued the video game publisher for age discrimination, according to a report by Law360. The 57-year-old worked for Blizzard from 2014 until August 2023, when he was laid off as part of a restructuring of the tech department. The man claims in the lawsuit that former CEO Bobby Kotick allegedly said, “There …
Overwatch has become a mainstay in competitive gaming, though the Blizzard creation hasn’t always had a smooth road to travel. From massive peaks of success to major controversies and dips in popularity, the Overwatch franchise has proved resilient, still playing host to legions of players and fans.
Along the way, the game served as host to one of the most ambitious projects in the growing history of esports, and saw the release of a sequel that changed in form and function multiple times before finally releasing to the public.
What is Overwatch?
Overwatch is a prototypical “hero shooter,” a game that combines first-person shooting gameplay with heroic abilities that are unique to each of the game’s diverse cast of characters. One character might swing a giant hammer and wield a protective shield behind which teammate can take cover, while another might zip around the game’s world with twin guns blazing, warping time and space at will.
That variety of characters and playing styles is a big reason for Overwatch’s success. When no two characters play exactly alike, the sheer variety available in the game becomes a draw. Throw in colorful visuals, dynamic and responsive gameplay, and action-packed battles between teams of opposing players all combining their different abilities together, and you can begin to understand the popularity of Overwatch.
When developers at Blizzard first released Overwatch, there was nothing else quite like it. The closest any major release had come was likely Team Fortress 2, which also featured teams of opposing characters wielding varied abilities in prolonged battles. But Overwatch leaned even further into the unique qualities of its characters, including their presentation. Across PCs and consoles alike, the game proved to be a sensation upon its 2016 release.
What happened to the Overwatch League?
Originally founded in 2017, the Overwatch League was meant to serve as a long-term competitive hub for the game’s professional teams and players prior to its official shutdown in 2024. The league was created with big ambitions in mind, as Blizzard, by then partnered with massive publisher Activision, planned to seed local teams in a variety of cities spread across the world. The idea was to emulate traditional professional sports by rooting pro teams in certain cities and regions in the hopes of cultivating local fan followings.
This was a big change compared what had become the standard in esports, with esports organizations representing themselves to their fans regardless of region. At most, broad regions such as North America or Europe were most often marketed to by individual teams. To hone that in on a specific city was a significant change.
Activision-Blizzard also took the step of making pro Overwatch a closed system; that is, high-level tournaments were broadly restricted outside of official OWL events. While this exclusivity offered theoretical opportunity for the OWL through scarcity, it was also a different approach relevant to the established norm in esports, which traditionally saw smaller grass-roots events feed into a game’s highest levels as tournaments gradually scaled up in prominence and prize offerings.
Demanding tens of millions of dollars from investors who sought to own an OWL team and signing big-money exclusive broadcast deals with streaming platforms, the OWL got itself off to a hot start. But concerns over flagging viewership and overall revenue struggles persisted as the league marched forward. Its intended model proved unsustainable, and the league was eventually shut down.
Do people still play Overwatch?
Despite the fate of OWL, Overwatch remains broadly popular in its current form: Overwatch 2. The game remains under active development at Activision-Blizzard, regularly receiving new in-game events and more unique heroes with special abilities that allow the game to be played in different ways.
The release of Overwatch 2 was itself not without some controversy, as Blizzard’s plans for its contents changed and shifted through the sequel’s development cycle, and the final version of OW2 released as more of a continuation of the original game than a distinctly different sequel. But that continuation still preserved the gameplay and overall experience so many players had come to love about OW. For them, getting more of the same ultimately was not an issue.
