Overwatch
Overwatch
Here is how to fix the “wobbly” aim issue in Overwatch 2
Olivia Richman
Players have noticed that their aim feels a bit off in Overwatch 2. Complaints have been popping up all over the internet, with players saying that it feels “wobbly” and no longer fluid. It’s just not the same, but why? Strangely enough, there is currently no answer as to why the aiming feels off in Overwatch 2. There are many speculations, including frame rate inconsistencies, default mouse input settings, and …
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 to erase ranked history, here’s why players are mad
Olivia Richman
Competitive Overwatch 2 players are worried about their ranked history being removed after a surprise announcement from Blizzard. Overwatch 2 launched with an entirely revamped ranked mode, with SR being replaced by Skill Tier Divisions. Blizzard was hoping players wouldn’t feel as stressed about seeing their SR going up and down after each match. The goal was to make players less stressed about their longterm performance and more focused on …
Overwatch
When is Overwatch 2 being released in each country?
Olivia Richman
The gaming community has anxiously been waiting for Overwatch 2 since the original game’s servers went down on October 2. So when will Overwatch 2 be released exactly? When Overwatch 2 was initially announced, Blizzard stated that gamers would be able to play the game together whether they were on Overwatch 1 or Overwatch 2. While it was a bit confusing, it seemed as though Blizzard was going to implement …
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 players can get Kiriko’s Sukajan skin for free
Fariha Bhatti
Overwatch is remodeling into a free-to-play game with a tempting in-game shop. However, there’s one free item players can grab before the game kicks off. Blizzard has revamped its premium multiplayer shooter to free-to-play in 2022. A brand new 5v5 game mode, lavish in-game store, and seasonal battle pass will breathe new life into Overwatch. However, these positive changes are accompanied by concerns that Overwatch 2’s in-game cosmetics may be …
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 players frustrated with battle pass Mythic skins
Olivia Richman
Overwatch 2 players are demanding changes to the battle pass, and the new Mythic skins are the catalyst for it all. Overwatch 2 is going to be free-to-play when it’s launched in October, bringing with it a new season system complete with battle passes. The community has been mulling over the most recent information about the Season One battle pass, with many fans coming forward with frustrations and suggestions. The …
Overwatch
Junker Queen and Orisa to receive big changes in Overwatch 2
Olivia Richman
There are big balance changes coming to the hero roster when Overwatch 2 launches in October. In the Overwatch 2 development team’s recent blog post, some balance changes are outlined regarding several heroes. Developers explained that they plan to release a new hero every nine weeks, meaning there has to be consistent and meaningful balance changes. “Importantly, each season will also see impactful hero balance changes as the season begins …
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 dev Geoff Goodman leaves Blizzard before release
Olivia Richman
With just two weeks ahead of the launch of Overwatch 2, lead hero designer Geoff Goodman has left Blizzard. The Overwatch fandom has been anxiously awaiting the release of Overwatch 2, something that fans thought may not even be happening at one point. Blizzard was having a tough time with gender discrimination lawsuits over the past few years, leaving the company a bit distracted from the promised sequel. Veteran employees …
Overwatch
Overwatch League Grand Finals information revealed, location, schedule
Olivia Richman
The Overwatch League Grand Finals location has been announced and fans in Anaheim, California will have proverbial front-row seats. The fifth Overwatch League Grand Finals will be taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center, the same building used for BlizzCon each year. The postseason will take place on October 14 through November 4, including an online regional Countdown Cup play-ins leading into the double-elimination playoff bracket. Fans will be able …
Here are all the abilities of Kiriko, the newest Overwatch 2 hero
Fariha Bhatti
Overwatch
After a string of leaks, Blizzard has now formally revealed Kiriko as the next support hero coming to Overwatch 2 on launch. Overwatch 2 will be released with three new heroes and new content locked in a stacked battle pass. Players have had plenty of time to familiarize themselves with Sojourn and Junker Queen through the betas, but Blizzard decided to roll out Kiriko with the game’s release. This means …
Here is how the Overwatch 2 Season 1 Battle Pass works
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 is introducing battle passes to Overwatch, starting with the Season 1 Battle Pass. With battle passes being new to Overwatch, fans have been curious and concerned about the concept being added to the shooter. Blizzard has given some insight into the battle pass ahead of Overwatch 2’s launch on October 4. Overwatch 2 is free-to-play but many players were concerned that the battle pass would cost money or …
Some new Overwatch 2 heroes will be gated in the battle pass
Fariha Bhatti
Overwatch
A new Overwatch 2 leak has suggested that unlocking heroes may not be as simple as it was in the original game, and fans are concerned. Overwatch 2 is set to be released on October 4 with brand new heroes that’d construct a new meta. Just a month away from release, players have started prepping for some of the incoming characters. However, a leaker has poured cold water over the …
Here are all the new heroes coming to Overwatch 2 in Season 1
Fariha Bhatti
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 hero leaks are becoming more frequent as the game draws closer to release and fans are getting details on all the new heroes coming in the game’s first season. Highly anticipated team-based shooter Overwatch 2 is set to release in October. The popularity of the original game will likely translate into a smashing release for Overwatch 2, thanks to a loyal fanbase and a tidal wave of likely …
Overwatch 2 has cross-progression, here’s how to set it up
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Blizzard has announced that Overwatch 2 is getting cross-progression which will let players carry over their skins, battle pass, and more from PC to consoles and vice versa. In a blog post on the official Overwatch website, developers explained that players will be able to merge their Overwatch 2 accounts from PC and consoles into one Battle.net account, meaning progression and in-game cosmetics will be available across all platforms, from …
Everything you need to know about OWL 2022 Summer Showdown
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Overwatch League is returning soon, and in a big way. The OWL 2022 Summer Showdown is set to begin on August 11 with qualifiers matches. This regional tournament will feature two separate brackets for teams from the west and east respectively, in a fight to earn League Points and qualify for the Summer Showdown Tournament. Here is what to expect at the Overwatch League 2022 Summer Showdown Qualifiers this year. …
When is the third Overwatch 2 beta starting before launch?
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
The most recent Overwatch 2 beta period has ended and the Overwatch community still has a lot of questions and concerns about the long-awaited sequel. Support heroes still have a lot of balancing and some players are not feeling the 5v5 change. Some even want to see more maps and gameplay, including the new PvE mode. So will there be another Overwatch 2 beta before the game launches in October? …
Are Overwatch 2 skins going to be more expensive?
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Blizzard is continuing to respond to fans upset by the possibility of more expensive skins in Overwatch 2. Overwatch 2 has been announced as free-to-play when it finally launches in October. This relieved the Overwatch community after spending years accusing Blizzard of releasing Overwatch 2 as a full game when many felt it could have been a big update to the original title. Whether the game is worthy of its …
Blizzard responds to backlash over pricey Overwatch 2 skins
Fariha Bhatti
Overwatch
Blizzard has finally cleared the air after the player backlash against the outrageous price of Overwatch 2 skins mentioned in the monetization survey. A rocky Overwatch 2 beta has come to a close, with some players only being able to try out the game for two days. Gamers who purchased Watchpoint Pack received instant access, fanning whispers of Overwatch 2 beta being a mere cash grab for Blizzard. The $40 …
Overwatch League teams allegedly must pay their own way in 2022
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
The Overwatch League may be one of the biggest competitions in esports, but the participating teams will apparently have to pay their own way to any live LAN tournaments they attend this year. Midseason Madness is the next Overwatch League event and it’s already riddled with controversy. Not only will teams have to pay to travel to Hawaii, but there is a limit on how often participating teams can practice. …
Will there be changes to Symmetra in the Overwatch 2 PvP beta?
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Overwatch 2’s second beta is underway and the game’s community has started to notice some hero changes that just aren’t working in the new Overwatch meta. Overwatch players have been anxiously awaiting the second PvP beta for Overwatch 2 after developers promised big changes to support heroes and other need hero roster balance changes. Unfortunately, not every change is living up to expectations. Nerfs to turret-based hero Symmetra have not …
Former Overwatch coach Jayne reported missing, family asks for help
Olivia Richman
Overwatch
Former Dallas Fuel coach Justin “Jayne” Conroy has been reported missing, and now his family is asking for help in locating him. Jayne is a retired esports coach for both Dallas Fuel and the Overwatch World Cup’s Team Canada, helping to bring Team Canada to an improbable third-place finish at the 2018 Overwatch World Cup. Jayne has worked with the likes of Lane “Surefour” Roberts and Felix “xQc” Lengyel, among …
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.
