After years of struggle, Blizzard Entertainment has navigated into uncharted territory: Overwatch players are enjoying the game again. The Overwatch team has faced its share of setbacks, from the massive launch of the original game in 2016, which was eventually overshadowed by contentious balance decisions, to the disastrous launch of Overwatch 2, a sea of negative reviews, and the cancellation of PvE content. As one issue followed another, fans began to question whether Blizzard could ever regain its footing or if the glory days of Overwatch were confined to 2018. However, after a series of fundamental changes, fans now believe that Overwatch 2 is poised to offer the most compelling content lineup it's seen in years, potentially reaching the best state it has ever been in.
To All Agents of Overwatch
On February 12, 2025, game director Aaron Keller and the Overwatch team unveiled an Overwatch 2 Spotlight presentation, promising to explore "what the future holds." With a history of painful decisions behind them, fans approached the event with a mix of fear and cautious optimism, recognizing it as a pivotal moment for Blizzard. The 34-minute presentation delivered a comprehensive content release schedule, numerous changes that players had long requested, and, crucially, transparency.
Unlike the past, where lofty, unattainable promises were common, Overwatch 2’s 2025 roadmap felt achievable. New Damage and Support heroes, Freja and Aqua, were introduced, alongside Stadium, a groundbreaking third-person Competitive mode designed to break the monotony of standard matches. Loot boxes, a controversial monetization tactic that was abandoned when the original Overwatch was shuttered in 2022, returned with modifications to enhance player rewards without linking them to real-world currency. Each of the 43 characters received four unique, game-altering abilities through perks, and Blizzard detailed its plan to reinstate 6v6 gameplay. This extensive list of additions and content, set to be implemented within months, marked a significant shift from the launch of Overwatch 2 – and it was more than players had seen in a long time.
Not gonna lie I had a lot of fun playing 6v6 perk watch today
— Samito (@SamitoFPS) April 5, 2025
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!
By April, the introduction of loot boxes, Freja, Stadium, and classic balance modes signified Blizzard’s commitment to turning a new page for Overwatch. This revitalization has broken the cycle of repetitive seasonal content and surpassed expectations, reassuring those who feared the hero shooter would never regain its luster. There’s debate about what triggered such a radical change in strategy, but it's clear that the Overwatch 2 team is dedicated to the game's success. This marks a different Blizzard.
“They pulled themselves out the gutter with this one,” Reddit user Right_Entertainer324 said about the Overwatch 2 Spotlight. “Super excited for the future of Overwatch 2, for the first time in… Well, ever.”
Experience Tranquility
Despite the ups and downs, it has been nearly seven years since Overwatch was the beloved titan it once was. Even with the deluge of fulfilled promises during Seasons 15 and 16, fans remain cautiously optimistic. The current season's developments have been overwhelmingly positive, yet the community remains vigilant, expecting the other shoe to drop at any moment. However, Blizzard is pushing forward with confidence.
“...the decisions of Aaron and the team have led the game to a healthy state of growth and competition. I think that deserves praise,” said 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 reflects a shift in the community's attitude. Posts praising Stadium are commonplace, as are comments from players excited about Season 16's introduction of Competitive hero bans. This long-requested feature, allowing players to opt out of playing with or against certain heroes like Sombra, debuted last week to great acclaim.
Devs absolutely cooking this season from r/Overwatch
Blizzard is just beginning its journey to rebuild the trust it has lost over the years. While Overwatch fans won't forget past grievances, the change in attitude is unmistakable.
Content creator Niandra, who critically analyzed Overwatch 2 in their “Let’s Talk About the State of Overwatch 2” video last summer, remains cautiously optimistic but feels "pretty good" about the current state of the game. They believe the community is warming up to the recent changes.
“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 explain, “but I think the (Overwatch) community is getting happier! I wouldn't be surprised if ex Overwatch players have curiously checked out the game again recently.”
“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 solidified its place as a vital part of Overwatch 2, introducing fresh gameplay to the nine-year-old hero shooter. The mode's innovative approach has sparked constructive discussions on how to enhance it further. While the community is still exploring its full potential, the general sentiment is one of enjoyment and anticipation.
they genuinely COOKED with stadium from r/Overwatch
One criticism has been the absence of a Quickplay option in Stadium, which also means no crossplay support. This has prevented groups of friends on different platforms from trying out the mode's various character builds and synergies. However, fans expected more features to be added in future seasons, and were pleasantly surprised when Blizzard quickly addressed these concerns.
“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 a black sheep in the gaming world 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 aren't evidence that all past issues have been resolved or that Overwatch 2 is now perfect, but they do indicate that the game is capable of reclaiming its former glory.
While the game's momentum is strong, many believe Blizzard has one more card to play to fully engage its community: traditional story cinematics. These narrative tie-ins garnered millions of views but were largely abandoned when Blizzard shifted its focus to the game itself. Given their role in connecting players with the characters and enriching the experience, these videos remain highly sought after by fans.
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 shifted from being the most negatively reviewed game on Steam to garnering “Mixed” reactions from players. As the team continues to add features like Stadium and the return to 6v6, long-term consistency will be crucial in determining whether Blizzard can fully recover. The progress made over the last few months suggests it's achievable.
“I think we’ve entered a new golden age of Overwatch,” hero-shooter content creator and longtime Overwatch player Flats said 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 marked the beginning of Blizzard’s next phase last week, introducing the new Damage hero Freja. This week, a mech-fueled Gundam collaboration was unveiled. Future seasons are set to include a Dva Mythic skin, a Reaper Mythic Weapon skin, additional Stadium characters, and more. Only time will tell if these developments are enough to fully revive Overwatch to its former glory.
