The hero shooter genre has seen many games come and go over the last eight years or so. Somehero shootershave managed to stick around for a little while, others have been shutdown after mere weeks. But there’s one game that’s still standing tall atop the heap, and that’sOverwatch 2.
ThoughOverwatch 2’s October 2022 early access launch was quite shaky, the live-service sequel has managed to gradually right the ship over the last few years. Thanks to consistent updates that have added more maps, modes, and heroes,Overwatch 2is arguably better than it’s ever been before, and it’s still pulling in some impressive numbers on Steam. But a new contender is about to enter the hero shooter market, andOverwatch 2Season 14 is going to need to go above and beyond to keep its crown.
Overwatch 2 Season 14 Needs to Bring Out The Big Guns
Overwatch 2 Is Going to Have Some Major Competition This December
On December 6,Marvel Rivalsis going to launch on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. A 6v6 hero shooter,Marvel Rivalsfeatures very similar gameplay toOverwatch 2, and even includes some very similar character abilities. But whileOverwatchis used to seeing competitors,Marvel Rivalshas a few tricks up its sleeve that could cause Blizzard some problems.
Marvel Rivals’biggest asset, and its most obvious one, is its packed roster of Marvel heroes and villains. It calls forth characters from all corners ofthe Marvel universe, from X-Men to the Avengers and everything in between. This immediate brand recognition is a powerful thing, and it could be the key to drawing players away fromOverwatchupon its release.
Another strength thatMarvel Rivalswill enjoy at launch is its pre-established following. Earlier this year,Marvel Rivalshosted a series of closed playtests. These playtests brought over 50,000 players in on launch day, many of whom will probably be returning on December 6. There’s also a good portion of fans who didn’t get into the closed playtests who have been eagerly awaiting their chance to play the game for months now – and that’s just launch day.
After its initial launch,Marvel Rivalsis set to immediately begin its post-launch plans, kicking off Season 0 on release day. During the month-long season,Marvel Rivalswill receive six new playable charactersalong with a bevy of new maps. This content should keep new players invested for at least the month of December, which could pose a significant issue forOverwatch 2Season 14, which is set to release just 4 days afterMarvel Rivals.
Overwatch 2 Season 14 Is Already Making The Right Moves
Set to release on December 10,Overwatch 2Season 14 is going to need to do something big to compete withMarvel Rivals. It seems Blizzard has already begun to take the right steps, as a new character is coming toOverwatch 2with Season 14.Overwatch 2’s new Tank hero Hazardlooks like a fun addition to the roster, and fans will get a chance to play as him briefly between November 22 and 25. Hopefully this trial goes well so that Hazard can place a positive spotlight onOverwatch 2in December.
Overwatch 2is also finally starting totest 6v6 gameplay in Season 14, which is something fans have wanted since long before the game released. But while Hazard and 6v6 testing are a good start,Overwatch 2Season 14 might need something else to keep fans hooked throughout December.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
