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Overwatch 2 Release: Blizzard's Controversial Sequel Nobody Wanted

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Overwatch 2 Release: Blizzard's Controversial Sequel Nobody Wanted

Remember when Blizzard promised Overwatch 2 would have a massive PvE campaign? Yeah, about that... What we got instead was Overwatch 1.5 with a battle pass, one less tank, and the audacity to delete the original game from existence. It's like if Nintendo released "Super Mario Bros 2" and it was just the first game but Luigi costs $20.

What's "New" in Overwatch 2?

Blizzard's marketing team worked overtime to justify that "2" in the title:

  • 5v5 Instead of 6v6 - Because nothing says "sequel" like subtracting a player. RIP off-tanks, you will be missed (except you, Roadhog one-tricks).
  • Free-to-Play - Translation: Get ready to pay $20 for skins that used to be free in loot boxes. Miss those gambling mechanics yet?
  • New Heroes Behind a Battle Pass - Want to play the new hero in competitive? Better grind to tier 55 or open that wallet. "Heroes will always be free" aged like milk.
  • PvE Missions - Just kidding! They canceled those after using them to sell the sequel. The biggest bait-and-switch since No Man's Sky, except Hello Games actually delivered eventually.

New Heroes & The Power Creep Express

Overwatch 2 launched with some genuinely fun new heroes:

Sojourn - Soldier: 76's cooler sister with a railgun. Finally, a hitscan DPS for people who thought Widowmaker required too much skill.

Junker Queen - What if Roadhog was attractive and had an Australian accent? Her knife throw gives more lifesteal than a Reaper in bronze rank.

Kiriko - A support who can teleport through walls and has invulnerability on demand. Balanced? Never heard of her.

Lifeweaver - The support who can grip teammates. Finally, you can physically pull your DPS out of their feeding position. Game-changing.

Maps, Modes & The Death of 2CP

Some actual improvements buried under the monetization nightmare:

  • Push Mode - Escort a robot who pushes a barrier. It's payload but sideways. Somehow more frustrating than 2CP ever was.
  • 2CP Is Dead - Paris and Horizon Lunar Colony are gone. Nothing of value was lost. The community rejoiced.
  • Reduced CC - McCree's (sorry, "Cassidy's") flashbang is gone. Mei can't freeze you. Brigitte can't stun-lock you to death. The game is legitimately more fun.
  • New Lighting Engine - The game looks prettier while you get spawn-camped. Progress!

Community Reactions: The Stages of Grief

The Overwatch community went through all five stages faster than a Lucio on speed boost:

  • "Where's my 6v6?" - Tank mains suddenly realizing they have to actually tank instead of playing DPS Roadhog.
  • "$20 for a skin?!" - The Mythic skins are cool but cost more than entire indie games. Whale hunting at its finest.
  • "Queue times are better though" - One tank means faster queues. Silver lining to the mushroom cloud.
  • "Steam reviews: Overwhelmingly Negative" - Making it the worst-reviewed game on Steam. Achievement unlocked?

Reddit alternates between "dead game" posts and highlight reels. Streamers complain while playing 12 hours daily. Nature is healing.

Is Overwatch 2 Worth Playing?

Here's the thing: underneath the predatory monetization and broken promises, the core gameplay is still excellent.

Play it if:

  • You enjoyed Overwatch 1 (RIP)
  • You can ignore the battle pass FOMO
  • You're okay with the new 5v5 format
  • You missed getting flamed by teammates in voice chat
  • It's free and you hate yourself

Skip it if:

  • You're still mad about the PvE cancellation
  • You refuse to support Blizzard's business practices
  • You were a dedicated off-tank main
  • You have a gambling problem (those shop bundles are tempting)

The tragic irony? Overwatch 2 plays better than ever. The 5v5 format is faster, individual skill matters more, and the removal of most CC makes fights more dynamic. But it's wrapped in such a greedy package that it's hard to recommend without asterisks.

It's still one of the best hero shooters available. Just don't buy the $40 "Watchpoint Pack" that literally just gives you some skins and battle pass tiers. Bobby Kotick's yacht doesn't need another upgrade.

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