Overwatch 2 Season 15 has breathed new life into the game, significantly improving player sentiment and marking a turning point from its previously disastrous reputation on Steam. Nearly nine years after the original Overwatch launched, and two and a half years after Overwatch 2's controversial release, the game had plummeted to the lowest user-reviewed title on Steam in August 2023. Criticism centered heavily on monetization practices and the forced transition from a premium model to free-to-play, rendering the original game unplayable. Further controversies, including the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, only exacerbated the negative reception.
While still holding a "mostly negative" overall rating, recent reviews show a dramatic shift towards "mixed," with 43% of the 5,325 reviews submitted in the last 30 days being positive. This positive swing is largely attributed to Season 15's sweeping changes. The update brought significant gameplay alterations, including the introduction of hero perks and the return of loot boxes, alongside the expected new content additions.
Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots
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Player feedback reflects this positive shift. Comments like, "They just released Overwatch 2," highlighting the feeling that the current iteration finally delivers on the game's initial promise, and "Going back to what worked in Overwatch 1 while introducing new and fun mechanics," showcase the impact of the changes. Another review mentions the game's response to the competition from the hugely popular Marvel Rivals, a similar hero shooter boasting 40 million downloads since its December launch.
In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged the competitive landscape created by Marvel Rivals' success, stating that it's forced Blizzard to adopt a more proactive approach, moving away from a "play it safe" strategy.
While it's premature to declare Overwatch's complete resurgence, the improvement in Steam reviews and a near doubling of peak concurrent players on the platform to 60,000 (though overall player numbers across all platforms remain undisclosed) indicates a significant positive trend. It's important to note that Marvel Rivals, which also recently released a mid-season update, boasts significantly higher concurrent player numbers on Steam (305,816).
