Overwatch 2 Season 15: A Resurgence Fueled by Change?
Overwatch 2, once holding the dubious title of Steam's worst-reviewed game, is experiencing a surprising resurgence thanks to Season 15. Nearly nine years after the original Overwatch's debut and two and a half years after Overwatch 2's launch, the game is showing signs of recovery. The initial backlash, stemming from controversial monetization practices and the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, left the game with a predominantly negative reputation.
However, recent Steam reviews reveal a shift towards "mixed," with 43% of the 5,325 reviews from the past 30 days being positive. This significant improvement is directly attributed to Season 15's sweeping changes. While the future roadmap promises continued content additions, the core gameplay has undergone a major overhaul, including the introduction of hero perks and the return of loot boxes.
Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots
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Positive player feedback reflects this change. Comments highlight the return to elements appreciated in the original Overwatch, coupled with engaging new mechanics. The success of the competitive multiplayer hero shooter, Marvel Rivals, has also played a significant role. Its popularity (40 million downloads since December) has pushed Blizzard to adopt a more dynamic approach to Overwatch 2, moving away from a "playing it safe" strategy, according to Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller in a recent GamesRadar interview.
While it's premature to declare Overwatch's complete comeback, Season 15 has undeniably boosted player numbers on Steam, nearly doubling peak concurrent players to 60,000. It's important to note that these figures only represent Steam; the game's overall player base across Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox remains undisclosed. For comparison, Marvel Rivals currently boasts 305,816 peak concurrent players on Steam. The future of Overwatch 2's reception remains uncertain, but Season 15's impact is undeniable.
