Overwatch 2 Season 15 has marked a notable shift in player sentiment, breathing new life into a game that once held the dubious distinction of being the worst user-reviewed game on Steam. Launched in 2016, Overwatch has now been around for nearly nine years, with Overwatch 2 debuting two-and-a-half years ago. In August 2023, Overwatch 2 faced intense backlash, particularly over its monetization strategy, after Blizzard transitioned its premium predecessor into a free-to-play sequel, rendering the original unplayable since 2022. The game also faced criticism for canceling its highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, which many felt was the core justification for the sequel's existence.
Despite still holding a 'mostly negative' overall user review rating on Steam, recent reviews have improved to 'mixed,' with 43% of the 5,325 reviews in the last 30 days being positive. This shift is largely attributed to the launch of Season 15, which introduced significant changes to the game's core mechanics, including the addition of hero perks and the return of loot boxes. These updates have been seen as a return to the successful elements of the original Overwatch while introducing fresh gameplay elements.
Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots
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Positive reviews have praised the recent updates, with one user stating, "The recent update is what the game should always have been before corporate greed got in the way." Another review noted, "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 to the game. A certain game made them LOCK IN and I couldn't be happier. Now we just gotta wait for next season with an actual cooler battlepass."
This sentiment is partly fueled by the success of Marvel Rivals, a competitive multiplayer hero shooter from NetEase that has garnered 40 million downloads since its December launch. In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged the new competitive landscape, describing it as "exciting" and "really great" to see Marvel Rivals taking Overwatch's ideas in a "different direction." Keller admitted that the success of Marvel Rivals has prompted Blizzard to adopt a less cautious approach with Overwatch 2, stating, "this is no longer about playing it safe."
While it's premature to declare Overwatch 2's full recovery, the game's Steam reviews reflect an ongoing struggle to move beyond a 'mixed' rating. However, Season 15 has led to a significant increase in player numbers on Steam, with peak concurrent players nearly doubling to 60,000. It's important to note that Overwatch 2 is also available on Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox, platforms where player numbers are not publicly disclosed. In contrast, Marvel Rivals recently achieved a peak of 305,816 concurrent players on Steam over the last 24 hours.
