The return ofOverwatchClassic inOverwatch 2Season 13 has garnered significant attention from fans of the hero-shooter genre. Considering thatOverwatchwas Game of the Yearwhen it released in 2016, the nostalgia that the 6v6 mode brings is palpable. Many players have already been drawn back to the event, reigniting memories of the game’s early days and the original 21 heroes.
It seems possible thatOverwatchClassic was inspired by games likeFortnite, which reintroduced Chapter 1 of its battle royale in November 2023 and followed with a remixed version of Chapter 2 in November 2024. However, one significant aspect could work well forFortnitebut may not benefitOverwatch 2in the long run. Specifically, the announcement of a permanent OGFortnitemode launching in December is a concept Blizzard should probably avoid replicating.
What Works for Fortnite May Not Fully Translate to Overwatch 2
The History of OG Fortnite and Overwatch 6v6
The original version ofFortniteOG began with Chapter 1: Season 5, with the map evolving until it reached Season X. During its run,FortniteOG achieved massive success, leading to milestones such as:
WhileFortniteRemix Chapter 2hasn’t reached the same player numbers as previous events, the return of iconic points of interest like Frenzy Farms, Slurpy Swamp, and Retail Row has still provided a nostalgic experience for players. Similarly,OverwatchClassic’s November 12 launch has struck a chord with the player base, offering newcomers a chance to experience the game as it was in Patch 1.0 while transporting veteran players back to 2016. Notably, the return of 6v6 in this mode is especially significant, as it’s a long-requested feature that has sparked ongoing debate sinceOverwatch 2shifted to 5v5 team compositions in 2022.
Overwatch 2 Risks Opening Pandora’s Box by Making Classic a Permanent Mode
November and December are notable months for long-term fans of bothFortniteandOverwatch 2. Both games have seen the return of memorable early patches from their past, but only for a limited time. Fortunately, the announcement thatFortniteOG is returning permanentlyhas somewhat softened the impact of Remix Chapter 2’s ending in a few weeks. On the other hand, if Blizzard is considering extendingOverwatchClassic beyond a Limited Time Mode, it could risk undermining the identity ofOverwatch 2.
UnlikeFortniteOG, which should become a permanent mode without many problems, a permanentOverwatchClassic might fuel criticismaboutOverwatch 2’s necessity, prompting players to question the purpose of the sequel. After all, when the game was first being marketed, its main selling points were its PvE story missions, which have since been shelved, and the transition to a single tank per team. KeepingOverwatchClassic as a recurring event seems like a safe idea, but making it a permanent mode would likely only invite more criticism from the fanbase that misses 6v6.
“Keeping Overwatch Classic as a recurring event seems like a safe idea, but making it a permanent mode would likely only invite more criticism from the fanbase.”
Furthermore, withOverwatch 2’s 5v5 format under intense scrutiny, especially with 6v6 playtests on the horizon, it may be overwhelming for Team 4 to manage all these demands simultaneously. Too many separate modes could also lead to longer queue times, and this issue would likely worsen if multiple permanent modes were added. Given that some players already face extended queue times in the hero-shooter, it might be better for Blizzard to keep this event as a fun, limited-time Arcade mode.
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.
