After years of struggle, Blizzard Entertainment has navigated into uncharted territory: Overwatch players are having fun again.
The Overwatch team is no stranger to adversity. Following the massive launch in 2016, the franchise faced numerous challenges including divisive balance decisions, a disastrous launch for Overwatch 2, a sea of negative reviews, and the cancellation of PvE content. As each issue piled onto the next, fans began to question if Blizzard could ever reclaim its former glory or if the golden era of Overwatch was forever lost in 2018. However, after implementing a series of fundamental changes, the community now believes that Overwatch 2 is not only on track to deliver its most substantial content lineup in years but might be in the best state it has ever been.
To All Agents of Overwatch
On February 12, 2025, game director Aaron Keller rallied the Overwatch team for the Overwatch 2 Spotlight presentation, a showcase meant to outline "what the future holds." With a history of painful decisions behind them, fans approached the event with a mix of fear and cautious optimism, aware that it was a pivotal moment for Blizzard. The 34-minute presentation detailed a robust content release schedule, introduced long-requested changes, and emphasized transparency—a stark contrast to the unfulfilled promises of the past.
The 2025 roadmap for Overwatch 2 felt achievable, unlike the lofty goals of previous years. New heroes, Freja and Aqua, were unveiled, alongside Stadium—a groundbreaking third-person Competitive mode designed to revitalize the gameplay experience. Loot boxes, a controversial monetization strategy abandoned with the original Overwatch in 2022, made a return with modifications to enhance player rewards without direct real-world currency ties. Additionally, all 43 characters received four unique, game-changing abilities via perks, and Blizzard detailed plans to reinstate 6v6 gameplay. This comprehensive list of additions and content promised to be delivered within a few months was the most substantial update since the launch of Overwatch 2.
Not gonna lie I had a lot of fun playing 6v6 perk watch today
It makes me really happy to say Overwatch actually has found the light on this path
Post bans, 6v6 open queue perkwatch is the best state the game has been in since 2020
Looks like hero shooters will stay winning!
— Samito (@SamitoFPS) April 5, 2025
By April, the introduction of loot boxes, Freja, Stadium, and classic balance modes has marked a significant turning point for Overwatch. This shift has broken the cycle of repetitive seasonal content and exceeded the expectations of those who feared the hero shooter would never regain its positive reputation. While there is debate about what prompted such a drastic strategic change, it's clear that the current team is fully committed to Overwatch 2's success, showcasing a new, revitalized Blizzard.
"They pulled themselves out the gutter with this one," said Reddit user Right_Entertainer324 in response to the Overwatch 2 Spotlight. "Super excited for the future of Overwatch 2, for the first time in… Well, ever."
Experience Tranquility
It's been seven years since Overwatch first captured hearts, and despite the flurry of promises kept in Seasons 15 and 16, fans remain wary, expecting the other shoe to drop. Yet, Blizzard is pushing forward with determination.
"The decisions of Aaron and the team have led the game to a healthy state of growth and competition. I think that deserves praise," noted a popular post by Reddit user ImperialViking_. "When PvE was cancelled we all thought it was the end. Now, come Season 15, Overwatch has turned the corner and the future is looking super bright."
They continued, "All in all, I think it goes without saying that the devs have really been hitting it out of the park recently. People calling them 'lazy' is just plain wrong. There are, of course, still issues with Overwatch, and there always will be, but the decisions of Aaron and the team have led the game to a healthy state of growth and competition. I think that deserves praise."
The sentiment across Reddit, Discord, and X/Twitter has shifted markedly. Posts praising Stadium and comments about the thrill of Season 16's Competitive hero bans, which allow players to opt out of facing certain heroes like Sombra, are now common. This long-awaited feature debuted last week, adding to the positive momentum.
Devs absolutely cooking this season
byu/Dswim inOverwatch
Of course, Blizzard is still in the early stages of rebuilding its lost goodwill. While Overwatch fans won't forget past missteps, the change in community sentiment is undeniable.
Content creator Niandra, who dissected the state of Overwatch 2 in their video "Let's Talk About the State of Overwatch 2" last summer, remains cautiously optimistic. "I feel pretty good about where things are at now," they said. "I think fans are starting to come around, too, thanks to a few key additions."
"I think a particularly critical playerbase is to be somewhat expected with games that try to be your forever game and a part of your daily routine," they explained, "but I think the Overwatch community is getting happier! It feels like the momentum of perks into Stadium and Freja has brought a lot of goodwill. Morale in the community felt really low during the release of Marvel Rivals and its following month, especially since Overwatch didn't immediately respond with sweeping changes. Upon reflection, that was probably the correct move as Marvel Rivals is now having its own issues while Overwatch has released big changes. I wouldn't be surprised if ex Overwatch players have curiously checked out the game again recently."
Stadium has become a pivotal addition to Overwatch 2, not just for the fresh gameplay it offers to the now nine-year-old hero shooter but also for fostering constructive community discussions about potential improvements. While it currently lacks a Quickplay option and crossplay support, limiting some players from fully exploring its character builds and synergies, most believe that these features will be added in future updates. Blizzard's swift response to community feedback on these issues has been a refreshing change.
"God it is so nice seeing this," one Reddit user commented after Blizzard promised to tackle highly requested features like crossplay. "Literal IMMEDIATE update on feedback they’ve been given. Making no promises but being transparent about what the feedback is and how they intend to handle it. I really do love this direction of community communication they’ve been on for the last year or so."
Does This Mean Overwatch Is Back?
Overwatch has been considered a black sheep in the gaming community for some time. Once a beloved multiplayer staple, it fell from grace and struggled to regain its footing. The renewed interest and faith in its potential isn't a sign that all issues are resolved or that Overwatch 2 is now perfect, but it does suggest that it's capable of making a comeback.
While the game has regained momentum, many believe Blizzard has a trump card to fully re-engage its community: traditional story cinematics. These narrative tie-ins, which once garnered millions of views, were largely abandoned when Blizzard shifted its focus to the game itself. Given their role in connecting players with the characters, fans eagerly await their return as one of the most desired components.
AnswerSee Results"It feels like Overwatch has spent the last few years focusing on just the game itself, which has been wonderful, don't get me wrong, but does mean the reach outside of it feels limited," Niandra added. "Overwatch feels much like one very well-made PvP game, as opposed to the big multimedia franchise it has the potential to be, which is a shame considering all the praise its world-building and lore has gotten over the years."Following Blizzard’s February event, Overwatch has transitioned from being the most negatively reviewed game on Steam to receiving "Mixed" reactions from players. As the team continues to introduce significant updates like Stadium and the return to 6v6, their long-term consistency will be crucial in determining if Blizzard can fully reclaim its lost ground. If the last few months are any indication, the goal is within reach.
"I think we’ve entered a new golden age of Overwatch," said hero-shooter content creator and longtime Overwatch player Flats during a recent livestream. "Overwatch is potentially in the best state it’s ever been, and it’s not even close. Better than the launch of Overwatch 2. Better than when the PvE missions 'came out.' Dare I say, better than Overwatch 1. The only time, maybe not, is 2016 hype when it first started – arguably."
*Overwatch 2* Season 16 launched last week, marking the next phase of Blizzard’s ambitious plan. It introduced newcomer Freja as the latest Damage hero, with this week bringing a mech-fueled Gundam collaboration. Future seasons are set to include a Dva Mythic skin, a Reaper Mythic Weapon skin, additional Stadium characters, and more. Whether these updates will be enough to fully revive Overwatch to its former glory remains to be seen.
