Overwatch 2 Season 15: A Resurgence Amidst Competition
Overwatch 2, which once held the dubious title of Steam's worst-reviewed game, is experiencing a surprising resurgence thanks to Season 15. Nearly nine years after the original Overwatch's debut and two and a half years after Overwatch 2's launch, the game's reception is shifting. The overwhelmingly negative reviews following its controversial free-to-play transition and the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode have begun to moderate.
While the overall Steam user review rating remains "mostly negative," recent reviews show a significant improvement towards "mixed." A noteworthy 43% of the 5,325 reviews submitted in the past month were positive, a significant milestone given the game's history of negative feedback.
This positive shift is largely attributed to Season 15's impactful changes. Beyond the expected new content additions outlined in the roadmap, the core gameplay has undergone a major overhaul. The introduction of hero perks and the return of loot boxes are cited as key factors in the improved player sentiment.
Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots
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Player reviews reflect this change, with comments such as: "They just released Overwatch 2," and "The recent update is what the game should always have been before corporate greed got in the way." Another player stated, "Going back to what worked in Overwatch 1 while introducing new and fun mechanics... Now we just gotta wait for next season with an actual cooler battlepass.”
This last comment alludes to the success of Marvel Rivals, a competing hero shooter that has garnered 40 million downloads since its December launch. In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged the impact of Marvel Rivals on Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2, stating that the competitive landscape has changed, and Blizzard is now embracing a more risk-taking strategy.
While it's premature to declare Overwatch 2's complete comeback, the positive shift in player reviews and a near doubling of peak concurrent players on Steam to 60,000 (though overall player numbers across all platforms remain undisclosed) indicate a significant turnaround. This contrasts sharply with Marvel Rivals' current 305,816 peak concurrent players on Steam. The future remains uncertain, but Season 15 has undeniably breathed new life into Overwatch 2.
