Overwatch 2's Season 15 revitalizes the game, significantly improving player sentiment and marking a turning point from its previously abysmal Steam reviews. Launched nearly nine years after the original Overwatch and two and a half years after Overwatch 2's release, the game had, in August 2023, become the worst-reviewed game on Steam, primarily due to controversial monetization practices and the controversial shift to a free-to-play model. Further controversies, including the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, added to the negative reception.
While the overall Steam rating remains "mostly negative," recent reviews show a remarkable shift towards "mixed," with 43% of the 5,325 reviews from the past 30 days being positive. This positive swing is largely attributed to Season 15's significant changes. These include core gameplay adjustments, the introduction of hero perks, and the return of loot boxes – features praised by players as a return to the formula that worked in the original Overwatch.
Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots
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Positive player feedback highlights the positive impact of these changes, with comments such as, "They just released Overwatch 2," and "Going back to what worked in Overwatch 1 while introducing new and fun mechanics." The success of the similar competitive hero shooter, Marvel Rivals (40 million downloads since December), has also influenced Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2. In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged the heightened competition and stated that Blizzard is no longer "playing it safe."
Despite the positive shift, it's premature to declare Overwatch's complete resurgence. The Steam reviews still fluctuate, suggesting sustained improvement will be challenging. However, Season 15 has boosted player numbers on Steam, nearly doubling peak concurrent players to 60,000. It's important to note that these figures represent only the Steam player base; total player numbers across all platforms (Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox) are unavailable. For comparison, Marvel Rivals boasts 305,816 peak concurrent players on Steam.
