Overwatch 2's Season 15 is proving to be a turning point, significantly improving player sentiment and marking a remarkable comeback from its infamous stint as Steam's worst-reviewed game. Nearly nine years after the original Overwatch's debut and two and a half years after Overwatch 2's launch, the game faced immense backlash in August 2023, largely due to controversial monetization practices and the controversial transition from a premium model to free-to-play. Further fueling the negativity was the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, a key feature many players considered essential to the sequel's justification.
While Overwatch 2 still holds a "mostly negative" overall Steam rating, recent reviews reveal a shift towards "mixed," with 43% of the 5,325 reviews submitted in the past month being positive. This represents a substantial improvement for a game previously swamped with overwhelmingly negative feedback. This positive shift is largely attributed to Season 15's significant gameplay overhaul, including the introduction of hero perks and the return of loot boxes.
Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots
9 Images
Player reviews reflect this positive change: "They just released Overwatch 2," one recent positive review states. "The recent update is what the game should always have been before corporate greed got in the way." Another enthusiastic player comments, "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. 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 last comment references the highly successful Marvel Rivals, a competing hero shooter from NetEase boasting 40 million downloads since its December launch.
In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged the intensified competition presented by Marvel Rivals' success and its impact on Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2. Keller described the competitive landscape as "exciting" and even praised Marvel Rivals for taking established Overwatch concepts in "a different direction." However, he also admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has prompted a shift within Blizzard, emphasizing that "this is no longer about playing it safe."
While it's premature to declare Overwatch's complete resurgence, the fluctuating Steam reviews highlight the challenges ahead. Despite the positive momentum, maintaining the "mixed" rating will be a significant hurdle. Season 15, however, has already resulted in a notable increase in Steam player numbers, with peak concurrent players nearly doubling to 60,000. It's important to note that Overwatch 2's availability across multiple platforms (Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox) prevents a complete picture of its overall player base. For comparison, Marvel Rivals recently recorded 305,816 peak concurrent players on Steam within a 24-hour period.
