Overwatch 2Season 13 has included many exciting features, including new 5v5 variations in Quick Play: Hacked, quality-of-life updates to several maps, and now therecently revealed Overwatch Classic. Speculation that Team 4 was preparing something big for the midseason patch began when officialOverwatchsocial media accounts started sharing nostalgic throwbacks to younger versions of the 2016 game. With further hints like a profile picture change to early art of Tracer, some fans were already anticipating the arrival of an OGOverwatchmode.
WithOverwatch 2shifting from a 6v6 format to 5v5 when it launched in 2022, the return of 6v6 with the first Overwatch Classic event featuring the game’s original 21 heroes is garnering a lot of attention. Alongside the 12 classic launch maps, including the now retired Assault maps like Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, and Volskaya Industries, players can expect a strong dose of nostalgia. However, the reintroduction ofOverwatch Classiccould prove to be a double-edged sword for Blizzard.
Overwatch Classic Brings Both Opportunities and Risks
The Highlights of Overwatch Classic
Returning to the game’s state from eight years ago brings several benefits, including a nostalgic experience for long-time veterans and an opportunity for newer players to discover what the early days were like. With health pools reverted to their state beforeOverwatch 2Season 9’s changesand classic abilities like Cassidy’s original Flashbang and Widowmaker’s ability to one-shot at any damage range, it’s clear that the overall gameplay has shifted significantly over the years. Seeing how the community reacts to these differences, and alters team compostions with the 21 heroes available, should be interesting.
Considering that there will be different iterations of Overwatch Classic, with “popular moments in the game’s history, ranging from the fast-paced and frantic gameplay of the 2017 Moth Meta to the triple-tank, triple-support style of Goats,” according toBlizzard’s official website, it will be a nice way to showcase how much the game has evolved and grown. From no limits, where it was possible to have six Winstons at a time, to Torbjorn’s Armor Packs, it’s an interesting parallel toOverwatch 2’s current meta.
The Challenges of Overwatch Classic
Unfortunately, Overwatch Classic is set to last only three weeks, starting November 12 and ending on December 2. Although players may end up loving the nostalgic return to the game’searly 6v6 format, it’s important to remember that this is a limited-time mode. While it’s great that fans are being given an avenue to relive the early days ofOverwatch, the mode’s temporary nature might leave players wanting more, and potentially creating frustration when it ends.
On the flip side, it could spark debate over which version of the game is superior. With the many changesOverwatch 2has introduced, satisfying all players is challenging. Some may argue that Patch 1.0 ofOverwatchor the last season of the original game was better, fueling the ongoing discussion. GivenOverwatch 2’s history of controversy, this might only add fuel to the fire.
Fortunately, Blizzard’s plans to introduce 6v6 playtests in December and January could offer a middle ground for fans. This will provide an opportunity to relive the nostalgia ofOverwatchprime, withdouble-tank compositions like Reinhardt and Zarya. The 6v6 experiments will also allow players to experience a similar format sooner rather than later, without the restrictions of a limited-time event, while incorporating all the new heroes and hero reworks added since then.
6v6 is on track to be considered a permanent alternative to 5v5, depending on how the playtests are received. The 6v6 playtests are separate from Overwatch Classic.
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.
