Overwatch Classic’s Return is a Double-Edged Sword

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 12, 2024 5 Views 6 Min Read
Overwatch Classic's Return is a Double-Edged Sword

Overwatch 2 Season 13 has included many exciting features, including new 5v5 variations in Quick Play: Hacked, quality-of-life updates to several maps, and now the recently revealed Overwatch Classic. Speculation that Team 4 was preparing something big for the midseason patch began when official Overwatch social media accounts started sharing nostalgic throwbacks to younger versions of the 2016 game. With further hints like a profile picture change to early art of Tracer, some fans were already anticipating the arrival of an OG Overwatch mode.




With Overwatch 2 shifting from a 6v6 format to 5v5 when it launched in 2022, the return of 6v6 with the first Overwatch Classic event featuring the game’s original 21 heroes is garnering a lot of attention. Alongside the 12 classic launch maps, including the now retired Assault maps like Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, and Volskaya Industries, players can expect a strong dose of nostalgia. However, the reintroduction of Overwatch Classic could prove to be a double-edged sword for Blizzard.

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Overwatch Classic Brings Both Opportunities and Risks


The Highlights of Overwatch Classic

Returning to the game’s state from eight years ago brings several benefits, including a nostalgic experience for long-time veterans and an opportunity for newer players to discover what the early days were like. With health pools reverted to their state before Overwatch 2 Season 9’s changes and classic abilities like Cassidy’s original Flashbang and Widowmaker’s ability to one-shot at any damage range, it’s clear that the overall gameplay has shifted significantly over the years. Seeing how the community reacts to these differences, and alters team compostions with the 21 heroes available, should be interesting.

Considering that there will be different iterations of Overwatch Classic, with “popular moments in the game’s history, ranging from the fast-paced and frantic gameplay of the 2017 Moth Meta to the triple-tank, triple-support style of Goats,” according to Blizzard’s official website, it will be a nice way to showcase how much the game has evolved and grown. From no limits, where it was possible to have six Winstons at a time, to Torbjorn’s Armor Packs, it’s an interesting parallel to Overwatch 2‘s current meta.


The Challenges of Overwatch Classic

Overwatch Roster Promo Art

Unfortunately, Overwatch Classic is set to last only three weeks, starting November 12 and ending on December 2. Although players may end up loving the nostalgic return to the game’s early 6v6 format, it’s important to remember that this is a limited-time mode. While it’s great that fans are being given an avenue to relive the early days of Overwatch, the mode’s temporary nature might leave players wanting more, and potentially creating frustration when it ends.


On the flip side, it could spark debate over which version of the game is superior. With the many changes Overwatch 2 has introduced, satisfying all players is challenging. Some may argue that Patch 1.0 of Overwatch or the last season of the original game was better, fueling the ongoing discussion. Given Overwatch 2‘s history of controversy, this might only add fuel to the fire.

Fortunately, Blizzard’s plans to introduce 6v6 playtests in December and January could offer a middle ground for fans. This will provide an opportunity to relive the nostalgia of Overwatch prime, with double-tank compositions like Reinhardt and Zarya. The 6v6 experiments will also allow players to experience a similar format sooner rather than later, without the restrictions of a limited-time event, while incorporating all the new heroes and hero reworks added since then.

6v6 is on track to be considered a permanent alternative to 5v5, depending on how the playtests are received. The 6v6 playtests are separate from Overwatch Classic.


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