It's been almost five years since Overwatch was first released unto the world. Since then, many other hero shooters have tried to emulate its success, only to fade into obscurity. So why didn't Overwatch end up like Battleborn and LawBreakers? The answer lies in its characters. I actually enjoyed the LawBreakers beta while it lasted but I'll be damned if I can name a single character from it. Overwatch's roster is full of iconic characters with memorable designs and clearly defined personalities, and good characters inspire fanart and obviously, porn. Hell, there's a whole Wikipedia article about Overwatch porn, but I digress.
It's still a popular game among esports competitors and streamers, but the casual players have started to lose interest. Its playerbase has decreased over the years; maybe because the new updates and metas aren't as exciting as they used to be. Or it could be that negative press about Blizzard, such as their insistence on lootboxes and censorship of supporters of the Hong Kong protests, have put people off it. Then again a declining playerbase is to be expected of any game once the hype wears off. Battle royales were the big trend in online games after hero shooters so it should come as no surprise that people left Overwatch for newer games like Fortnite.
In an attempt to win back the fans. Activision Blizzard announced Overwatch 2 in 2019, which touts new maps, new heroes, new modes including more emphasis on story-based PvE content, plus redesigns of existing heroes. But the original Overwatch has already recieved all of those since its launch, so gamers are skeptical about whether it deserves the full sequel treatment. Director Jeff Kaplan confirmed that both Overwatch and Overwatch 2 will eventually merge into a single product, meaning they could easily release it as a free update, but that wouldn't make a profit compared to a new standalone game with a fresh coat of paint.
When creating a sequel to a beloved IP, it's important to communicate how returning characters have evolved with their updated designs. Take God of War for example: in the newest game, Kratos lost his Spartan skirt and bracer in favor of more rugged leather gear reflective of the new Norse setting. His longer beard shows he's older and wiser compared to the perpetually angry god slayer we know from the older games after escaping his past life and moving on with a new family. With that in mind, let's see how our favorite Overwatch characters have changed since their first appearance:
Left: original Right: Overwatch 2
I'll admit I think Genji's new drip is cool, but most people have been disappointed by how little most heroes have changed. It's obvious that they wouldn't want to reinvent the wheel after creating such strong characters in the first place, but they could've done more than just add more plating and highlights before calling it a day.
Anyway, I'm curious what you guys think. Do you still play Overwatch? Are you looking forward to Overwatch 2? What do you think of the new designs? Let us know below!
