What was Overwatch 2 supposed to be?

Overwatch 2 was initially planned as a sequel and replacement to the 2016 hero shooter Overwatch, intending to provide a shared environment for player-versus-player (PvP) modes, with plans for introducing persistent cooperative modes. The game’s development scope included a massive story campaign that would build onto the Overwatch world, developing its characters and universe in an unprecedented way, but the cooperative mode plans were later scrapped in 2023 to focus on its PvP elements.

Understanding Overwatch 2’s Original Vision

The original vision for Overwatch 2 included a gigantic launch for its PvE mode, giving players access to all of its content at once, but this plan was altered, and the PvE mode’s scope was reduced.

FAQs About Overwatch 2

General Questions

1. What was Overwatch 2’s PvE mode supposed to be? Overwatch 2’s PvE mode was planned to be one gigantic launch, giving players access to all of its content at once, including a massive story campaign.
2. Was Overwatch 2 supposed to be free? No, Overwatch 2’s PvE Story Missions are paywalled and will cost $15 to play.
3. Was Overwatch supposed to be an MMORPG? Earlier, Overwatch 2 Director Aaron Keller revealed that Overwatch had many facets over the years, but it was always meant to be an FPS MMO.

Game Details

4. What year is Overwatch 2 based on? Overwatch 2 is set one year after the events of the first Overwatch game, which launched in 2016 and is set about 60 years in the future, making 2077 the perfect year for Blizzard to have set Overwatch 2.
5. How old is Sigma? Sigma is the oldest playable character in the game, being 62 years old.
6. Who was the first Overwatch hero? The first hero character developed for Overwatch was Tracer, who was based on a character from Titan with similar time-manipulation abilities.

Availability and Updates

7. Will Overwatch 1 exist after Overwatch 2’s launch? No, in preparation for the sequel’s launch, Blizzard has shut down the Overwatch 1 servers, and when they come back online, Overwatch 1 will cease to exist, and Overwatch 2 will be in its place.
8. How old is Overwatch 1? The original Overwatch game was released by Blizzard on May 24, 2016, for PC platforms, as well as eighth-generation console platforms PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Game Modes and Features

9. What does PvE stand for? PvE stands for ‘Player vs. Environment”, where players work against non-player characters/monsters, or NPCs to accomplish tasks.
10. Why did Overwatch 2 stop PvE development? The development scope simply grew too big, and the team lost focus, according to Director Aaron Keller.
11. What is the $15 PvE in Overwatch 2? The $15 is the price of the Overwatch 2 Invasion bundle, which includes the story missions, 1,000 Overwatch coins, a legendary Sojourn skin, and instant access to Sojourn.

Gameplay and Content

12. Does Overwatch 2 have blood? The combat itself is tame with subtle splashes of stylized blood, and characters occasionally use mild profanity.
13. Is Overwatch 2’s story mode good? The Story Missions feel as though they’ve been created by people who want to further Overwatch’s narrative and give dedicated players something fun to do.
14. Did Overwatch 2 improve graphics? Yes, the graphics have been fully updated, with most characters receiving a graphic makeover.

Heroes and Characters

15. Who is the easiest Overwatch character to play? Bastion is often considered the easiest hero to play since it is a walking machine gun, followed by Mercy, who is the easiest support to play as but very helpful in battle.