After years of struggle, Blizzard Entertainment has navigated into uncharted territory: Overwatch players are having fun again.

The Overwatch team is no stranger to adversity. The game's massive launch in 2016 was overshadowed by contentious balance decisions, a disastrous launch for Overwatch 2, a sea of negative reviews, and the cancellation of PvE content. As controversies piled up, fans wondered if Blizzard could ever recover or if the glory days of Overwatch were forever lost in 2018. However, following a series of fundamental changes, fans now believe Overwatch 2 is not only poised for the best content lineup in years but possibly the best state it has ever achieved.

To All Agents of Overwatch

On February 12, 2025, game director Aaron Keller rallied the Overwatch team for an Overwatch 2 Spotlight presentation, promising to unveil "what the future holds." With years of challenging decisions behind them, fans approached the event with a mix of fear and cautious optimism. What unfolded was a 34-minute detailed breakdown of future content, long-requested changes, and a commitment to transparency.

Unlike the unattainable promises of the past, Overwatch 2's 2025 roadmap seemed achievable. New Damage and Support heroes, Freja and Aqua, debuted alongside Stadium, a revolutionary third-person Competitive mode designed to break the monotony of standard matches. Loot boxes, the controversial monetization tactic abandoned when the original Overwatch was shuttered in 2022, returned with enhancements to make them more rewarding without real-world money ties. Additionally, all 43 characters received four unique, game-changing perks, and Blizzard outlined plans to reintroduce 6v6 gameplay. This comprehensive list of additions promised more content than Overwatch players had seen since the launch of Overwatch 2, with most to be added within just a few months.

Not gonna lie I had a lot of fun playing 6v6 perk watch today

It makes me really happy to say Overwatch actually has found the light on this path

Post bans, 6v6 open queue perkwatch is the best state the game has been in since 2020

Looks like hero shooters will stay winning!

— Samito (@SamitoFPS) April 5, 2025

By April, the introduction of loot boxes, Freja, Stadium, and Classic balance modes marked a significant shift, breaking the cycle of repetitive seasonal content and exceeding the expectations of those who feared the hero shooter would never regain its positive reputation. While there's debate about what triggered such a radical change in strategy, it's clear that Overwatch 2 now has a team dedicated to its success. This represents a new era for Blizzard.

"They pulled themselves out of the gutter with this one," said Reddit user Right_Entertainer324 about the Overwatch 2 Spotlight. "Super excited for the future of Overwatch 2, for the first time in... Well, ever."

Experience Tranquility

Despite the ups and downs, it's been seven years since Overwatch was the titan fans fell in love with. Even with the flood of fulfilled promises in Season 15 and Season 16, fans remain cautious, fearing the other shoe might drop. Yet, Blizzard is pushing forward with determination.

"Let's be honest, (Overwatch 2's) development history has been... troubled," said Reddit user ImperialViking_. "When PvE was cancelled we all thought it was the end. Now, come Season 15, Overwatch has turned the corner and the future is looking super bright."

They continued: "All in all, I think it goes without saying that the devs have really been hitting it out of the park recently. People calling them 'lazy' is just plain wrong. There are OF COURSE still issues with (Overwatch), and there always will be, but the decisions of Aaron and the team have led the game to a healthy state of growth and competition. I think that deserves praise."

Across Reddit, Discord, and X/Twitter, the sentiment around Overwatch has shifted. Posts praising Stadium and comments celebrating the introduction of Competitive hero bans in Season 16 are common. This long-requested feature allows players to avoid playing with or against certain heroes like Sombra.

Devs absolutely cooking this season
byu/Dswim inOverwatch

Blizzard is just beginning its journey to rebuild the goodwill it lost over the years. While fans won't forget the past, the change in attitude is undeniable.

Content creator Niandra, who scrutinized the hero shooter in their "Let's Talk About the State of Overwatch 2" video last summer, remains cautiously optimistic. "I feel pretty good about where things are at now," they said. "I think fans are starting to come around, thanks to key additions."

"I think a particularly critical playerbase is to be somewhat expected with games that try to be your forever game and a part of your daily routine," Niandra explained, "but I think the (Overwatch) community is getting happier! It feels like the momentum of perks into Stadium and Freja has brought a lot of goodwill. Morale in the community felt really low during the release of Marvel Rivals and its following month, especially since Overwatch didn't immediately respond with sweeping changes. Upon reflection, that was probably the correct move as Marvel Rivals is now having its own issues while Overwatch has released big changes. I wouldn't be surprised if ex Overwatch players have curiously checked out the game again recently."

Stadium has become a core component of Overwatch 2, introducing fresh gameplay to the nine-year-old hero shooter. Its radical difference has sparked constructive discussions about potential improvements. While it will take time for the community to fully appreciate its value in the free-to-play experience, players are currently enjoying the journey.

they genuinely COOKED with stadium
byu/Silent-Account-3081 inOverwatch

One criticism has been the absence of a Quickplay option and crossplay support in Stadium. This has limited groups of friends on different platforms from experimenting with its many character builds and synergies. However, Blizzard's swift response to address these concerns just days after they surfaced was a pleasant surprise.

"God it is so nice seeing this," said one Reddit user after Blizzard promised to tackle highly requested features like crossplay. "Literal IMMEDIATE update on feedback they've been given. Making no promises but being transparent about what the feedback is and how they intend to handle it. I really do love this direction of community communication they've been on for the last year or so."

Does This Mean Overwatch Is Back?

Overwatch has been a black sheep in gaming for a while. Once a staple of the multiplayer world, it fell from grace and struggled to regain its footing. While renewed faith and interest are not proof of complete recovery or perfection, they indicate Overwatch 2's potential to reclaim its former glory.

With the current momentum, many believe Blizzard's trump card could be the return of traditional story cinematics. These narrative tie-ins, which garnered millions of views, were largely abandoned when Blizzard shifted focus to the game itself. Yet, they remain one of the most desired elements fans hope to see return, as they fostered a connection between players and the game's characters.

"It feels like Overwatch has spent the last few years focusing on just the game itself, which has been wonderful, don't get me wrong, but does mean the reach outside of it feels limited," Niandra added. "Overwatch feels much like one very well-made PvP game, as opposed to the big multimedia franchise it has the potential to be, which is a shame considering all the praise its world-building and lore has gotten over the years."

Following Blizzard's February event, Overwatch has transformed from being the most negatively reviewed Steam game to garnering "Mixed" reactions from players. As the team continues to invest in features like Stadium and the long-awaited return to 6v6, their consistency in the long term will determine if Blizzard can fully reclaim its lost ground. The recent months suggest this is achievable.

"I think we've entered a new golden age of Overwatch," said hero-shooter content creator and longtime Overwatch player Flats during a recent livestream. "Overwatch is potentially in the best state it's ever been, and it's not even close. Better than the launch of Overwatch 2. Better than when the PvE missions 'came out.' Dare I say, better than Overwatch 1. The only time, maybe not, is 2016 hype when it first started – arguably."

Overwatch 2 Season 16 marked the beginning of Blizzard's next phase last week, introducing the new Damage hero Freja and this week's mech-fueled Gundam collaboration. Future seasons promise a Dva Mythic skin, a Reaper Mythic Weapon skin, additional Stadium characters, and more. Whether these updates will fully revive Overwatch to its former glory remains to be seen.