Overwatch Is Finally Earning The In Its Name

When I reviewed Overwatch 2 back in 2022, I expressed a sentiment that I would soon hear echoed by peers and players alike; Although Overwatch 2 introduced a handful of solid changes to the critically-acclaimed hero shooter, there was very little there that truly justified the "2" that Blizzard seemed so eager to add. A new, shiny lacquer had been poured atop the game, that much was clear, but beneath its sleek exterior was a game that was largely the same--albeit with more aggressive monetization practices.

Over the past two years, I've held out hope that Blizzard would find some way to once again captivate fans (myself included) and harness the magic that made Overwatch so beloved. Across the game's 14 Seasons, it's abundantly clear that the team has been actively listening to its players and trying. Contentious anti-consumer practices have been reverted, fan service has been served hot and with plenty of 6v6 nostalgia on the side. We've even seen a few Fortnite-style collaborations come to the game. Sure, I don't know how many of us truly cared about the Porsche-inspired D.Va skin, but My Hero Academia, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Le Sserafim, and Transformers? All cool as hell. And yet, things have still felt… off.

Turns out, fans aren't the only ones who think so. Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Blizzard Studios, attend its 2025 Spotlight event, and discuss what's next for the series. Though I went in expecting the kind of frantic and/or defensive energy that comes with heightened (not to mention Marvel-backed) competition and a diminishing ROI, that wasn't what I was met with. Across my discussions with game director Aaron Keller, lead hero designer Alec Dawson, and other key team members, I saw a studio that was hard at work on one thing in particular: dismantling the protectiveness they had over their own creation. And it's about damn time.