Overwatch 2 has been a contentious topic since it was officially announced on November 1st, 2019, during BlizzCon. This put the community into a tailspin right away, with people debating back and forth about all sorts of things. What modes should stay? What modes should get cut for something better (Rest in peace, 2CP)? Any idea what this news even means for the original game of Overwatch? Those were just a couple of perspectives taken from the initial surge in activity in the fan community. It would have been difficult to envision Overwatch’s 2025 revamp with the state it was in back then.
The best thing about all of that was that a game already thought to be in a content drought was somehow going to be reimagined as a free-to-play follow-up, offering a business model that was profitable for them to produce. More content for all of us, and we should all be grateful. That was the entire notion, at least.
The launch of Overwatch 2 had lots of promise, and new heroes like Sojourn and Kiriko only helped sentiments.
Early Content Struggles and Disappointments
It seemed as if Blizzard’s supposed planning was all a hoax when the sequel originally released. While it still felt like the Overwatch we all knew and loved in many ways, there just was not enough content at launch for most people to feel comfortable calling it a true expansion on the first iteration. The content came in the form of:
- Mostly paid-for skins, a shell-shock coming off being able to earn every skin for free just by playing the game as normal. The prices at launch were also considered to be far too pricey, so a lot of players felt as if they were being ripped off by Blizzard. It felt almost predatory in a corporate sense, taking advantage of FOMO (fear of missing out) new players might have had.
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- It was hard to defend paying almost 30 dollars for a single skin.
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- Mythic skins were only available through the battle pass at first. They were gone forever once the season ended.
- A middling-at-best battle pass system with unsubstantial rewards. Unlike most free-to-play games, there was no way to earn back currency through the battle pass. There was also the unpopular introduction to souvenirs, which took up tiers that could have went to more meaningful rewards, and also took up an emote slot.
And, who can forget when Blizzard tried their hand at making everyone forget that they were supposed to be releasing a full fledged PvE mode with a lackluster Halloween PvE mode and a disappointing Winter holiday rewards event, both recurring since.
One could go on and on about what this follow-up to the game that once broke boundaries and defied expectations was missing. There just wasn’t enough to set it apart from the original game; in fact, it lacked in many ways that the original game did not, and felt like a regression because of that.
The Major Overhauls in 2025
But since March 21, 2025, Overwatch 2 has undergone a total revamp to refresh the gameplay experience. Season 15, which launched on February 18, introduced a new perks system that gives heroes personalized abilities during matches, adding new layers of strategy. These perks are leveled and locked mid-match, which means players need to decide on the fly which direction they want to take.
For some examples to help paint the picture; Genji can gain a perk that enhances his mobility, Mercy can unlock a perk that boosts her healing capabilities, and Orisa has a perk that brings back her iconic shield ability; just made to suit the game’s current balancing and gameplay changes.
In Overwatch’s 2025 revamp, perks add a brand new versatility to every single hero in the game, and an aspect of customization never seen before in Overwatch.
Loot Boxes Are Re-added to the Mix
The controversial loot boxes have made a return, this time with increased transparency, to make players feel rewarded just for playing. They are also free to earn, which has increased incentive for players to actually play the game, and have fun while doing just that. Players can get normal and legendary loot boxes from battle pass progression, weekly rewards, and Twitch drops. Legendary loot boxes guarantee a Legendary-tier cosmetic, and there is a handy safeguard against duplicates. The classic 6v6 mode has also been restored, catering to longtime fans of the original format.
Loot boxes have made their grand return, giving players satisfaction for their dedication.
6v6 is also here to stay, and instantly became one of the most popular modes. It is a return to the open queue, 2-tank format, and even has its own section in the competitive selection menu. With the positive reception to how it was implemented, Blizzard has proven they can usher old game modes and features back into Overwatch; so long as they consider how the landscape has changed since then, and tailor them to the current experience.
What’s Next for Overwatch 2?
Blizzard has confirmed Aqua as the working title of a support hero with water-based abilities, and they will add him in a later season. Looking towards something closer, Season 16 will introduce a new hero, Freja, a Danish bounty hunter wielding a crossbow, bringing fresh dynamics to the roster. While specific details about his kit are limited, Blizzard has teased that Aqua will have “one of the most unique ability sets” ever introduced in Overwatch 2, which has garnered a lot of hype from loyal fans for his eventual introduction.
The introduction of Stadium mode
Additionally, the upcoming Stadium mode will feature 5v5 matches with customization hero builds and a third-person camera option, adding a whole new depth of strategy and immersion. They will launch it on April 22nd with a limited number of heroes and plan to incorporate additional heroes into the new format at a gradual pace. The developers also limited the selection of maps, but they have promised to expand it. Stadium will begin with three core modes (push, control, clash), with the developers similarly promising to add more.
Stadium Mode is possibly the boldest move for Overwatch yet, with third person being implemented in an official, polished mode for the first time.
Players will earn what Blizzard is calling “Stadium Cash” by playing this mode, which will allow them to purchase new, mix-and-matchable upgrades for their preferred hero. Stadium will have its own ranking system as well, each “League” having a new and unique title. All of this is part of Blizzard’s ongoing dedication to innovation and community feedback, aiming to make Overwatch 2 a revolutionary game once again. Could this be due to the rise of Marvel Rivals? Partially, but that does not change the fact that these changes are all for the undeniable benefit of the game.
Stadium will have its own ranking system, allowing players to prove themselves and their skill in the new format.
The good of Overwatch’s 2025 revamp
Players greeted the Season 15 release for Overwatch 2 with a variety of responses. Most of them welcomed the return of the 6v6 mode and the perk system and stated that these improvements made the game fresh and improved. This can be seen in the Steam reviews for the game that shifted from “mostly negative” to a higher rating. Overwatch’s 2025 revamp actually saw a significant boost on platforms like Twitch as well, but the numbers eventually mellowed out to a slightly lower number. Long-term engagement seems to be an issue for Overwatch 2, but the excitement for updates is still there, which is a good thing.
Overwatch’s 2025 revamp sees a resurgence in tank players, including players willing to choose the once shunned Junker Queen, now that the 6v6 play style makes her more viable.
The meh of Overwatch’s 2025 revamp
Not everything has been good about Overwatch’s 2025 revamp though. Players enjoy the perk system, but they dislike how some aspects of how it currently works. The current belief is that while it is a great concept, there are still some balance issues and that there will be a constant need to tweak it to improve it. The player base honestly expected this, but some are willing to deal with inconsistency for the sake of having fun.
Mei using the old version of her freeze ability; the new one would work in similar fashion, just catered to Overwatch’s current landscape.
The ugly of Overwatch’s 2025 revamp
Some changes simply pander to nostalgia, rather than focusing on what the developers can do to create an entirely new sequel experience. Also, many players have criticized new hero designs, such as Hazard, for feeling “uninspired,” which has lowered superficial, aesthetic-based interest in the game. Heroes were once truly individual in their appearance, and now some players feel that is no longer the case.
Conversely, some players on the more casual end expressed discontent with some of the limited time gameplay-oriented modes. As a case in point, the Overwatch Classic: Moth Meta mode to celebrate Mercy’s horrid reign has been criticized for not doing justice to her best time, and this has annoyed Mercy enthusiasts. It also just felt like there wasn’t a point, seeing as it was only available for a short amount of time.
Stiff Competition
It is also important to mention that many Overwatch players have left the game for Marvel Rivals despite these changes; so maybe, the changes just aren’t enough, and developers still need to do more. It is estimated that 45% of Overwatch players that left the game in December, did so to play the new Marvel title. To clarify, that does not mean 45% of the total player base left; the total is actually much lower than that. But, it is interesting to note that the new hero-oriented game seemed to be the reason for so many during that specific time period.
While competition breeds innovation, will Blizzard be able to keep up with the rapid rise of Marvel Rivals?
In general, Overwatch’s 2025 revamp and the changes that have followed it elicited mixed reactions among the Overwatch 2 community with both accolades for innovation and demands for more.
It will be interesting to see how Blizzard continues its fight to remain competitive now that gamers have another high budget alternative, all while staying true to Overwatch’s identity since the start.
