Fans have anticipated the launch of Overwatch 2 since its initial announcement, and the release was ultimately a flop due to long queue times, login errors, and a number of controversies. However, the game’s content and updates have ultimately made the wait worth it, and it provides new and old players with a refreshing experience.
The game itself has not changed much in the sense that it is still a team-based first-person shooter. However, with 35 characters on the hero roster, a new game mode, and plenty of visual improvements, Overwatch 2 proves worth of replacing the original. Players got a sneak peek at the updates with early access in the game’s multiple beta versions prior to its release, offering a chance to take a look at the cosmetic changes to characters as well as some new faces added into the game.
One of the major criticisms that Overwatch 2 faced, other than the rocky launch, was that the game adopted the popular free-to-play model paired with a seasonal battle pass. Most of the content that is locked behind the battle pass includes skins and voice lines. However, the first tier that players will notice is one of Overwatch’s newest heroes, Kiriko. She is unlocked upon first purchasing the battle pass, but to those who do not wish to spend any money in a free-to-play game, Blizzard has offered casual players a chance to earn the hero, as well as some other free rewards, by leveling up on the free battle pass – admittedly at a considerable grind
Overwatch 2’s New Heroes & Gameplay Will Balance Out
There are plenty of changes in the game to incentivize new and old players to continue playing, despite some new restrictive features. New players will be faced with multiple challenges that revolve around unlocking characters introduced in the first game that original players already have access to, and though the process may take a some time, the improvements given to the characters make it worthwhile. With Overwatch’s loot box system officially being discontinued, offering rewards to players without access to the battle pass and making the game free-to-play was the ultimate compromise – and one of the title’s biggest changes.
Three new heroes have been added to the roster, two of which have been long awaited after their characters were first introduced in the original game through animated shorts and voice lines. Junker Queen and Sojourn were among the first features of Overwatch 2 revealed at its announcement, and are arguably the reason it was so highly anticipated. Though many of the playable heroes are locked for newcomers, including the game’s newest characters, they are easily achievable through hero challenges, presented along with daily, weekly, and lifetime challenges
Blizzard has already begun to work on some of the major issues that came with the launch, including any account merging issues or game breaking bugs. While the event was less than impressive, there has been an obvious effort and push to apologize for the bumpy Overwatch 2 release. The game has already seen more than one maintenance patch and will inevitably continue to go through more updates and hotfixes to smooth out character and gameplay problems. Despite some setbacks, Overwatch 2 promises to provide a new, fast-paced experience for new players, and both familiarity and fresh excitement to original fans.
