Overwatch 2 Season 15 is proving to be a turning point, significantly improving player sentiment and challenging the game's previous reputation as Steam's worst-reviewed title. Nearly nine years after the original Overwatch's debut and two and a half years after Overwatch 2's launch, the game faced intense criticism, particularly regarding its monetization practices and the controversial transition from a premium model to free-to-play. The cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode further fueled negative player reactions.
While Overwatch 2 still holds a "mostly negative" overall Steam rating, recent reviews show a remarkable shift towards "mixed," with 43% of the 5,325 reviews submitted in the last 30 days being positive. This positive trend is directly linked to Season 15's significant changes, including the introduction of hero perks and the return of loot boxes. These core gameplay adjustments, alongside the expected new content roadmap, have resonated strongly with players.
Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots
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Positive player feedback highlights the impact of these changes. Comments like, "They just released Overwatch 2," and "The recent update is what the game should always have been before corporate greed got in the way," reflect a renewed sense of optimism. Another player stated, "For once, I must come to Overwatch's defense and say they really have stepped up their game. Going back to what worked in Overwatch 1 while introducing new and fun mechanics." This positive reception also acknowledges the game's response to the competition from the successful Marvel Rivals.
The emergence of Marvel Rivals, a similar hero shooter boasting 40 million downloads since its December launch, has significantly impacted Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2. In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged the intensified competitive landscape, calling the situation "exciting" and praising Marvel Rivals for taking established ideas in "a different direction." He admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has prompted a shift within Blizzard, emphasizing a move away from "playing it safe."
While it's premature to declare Overwatch's complete resurgence, the positive shift in Steam reviews and a near doubling of peak concurrent players on the platform to 60,000 (with the caveat that total player numbers across all platforms remain undisclosed) demonstrate Season 15's positive impact. This contrasts with Marvel Rivals' impressive 305,816 peak concurrent players on Steam within the last 24 hours. The future remains uncertain, but Season 15 has undeniably revitalized interest in Overwatch 2.
