Why Overwatch Classic Can’t Follow in Fortnite OG’s Footsteps

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 14, 2024 4 Views 6 Min Read
Why Overwatch Classic Can't Follow in Fortnite OG's Footsteps

The return of Overwatch Classic in Overwatch 2 Season 13 has garnered significant attention from fans of the hero-shooter genre. Considering that Overwatch was Game of the Year when it released in 2016, the nostalgia that the 6v6 mode brings is palpable. Many players have already been drawn back to the event, reigniting memories of the game’s early days and the original 21 heroes.




It seems possible that Overwatch Classic was inspired by games like Fortnite, which reintroduced Chapter 1 of its battle royale in November 2023 and followed with a remixed version of Chapter 2 in November 2024. However, one significant aspect could work well for Fortnite but may not benefit Overwatch 2 in the long run. Specifically, the announcement of a permanent OG Fortnite mode launching in December is a concept Blizzard should probably avoid replicating.

fortnite lead 5v5 game mode overwatch 2

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What Works for Fortnite May Not Fully Translate to Overwatch 2

The History of OG Fortnite and Overwatch 6v6

The original version of Fortnite OG began with Chapter 1: Season 5, with the map evolving until it reached Season X. During its run, Fortnite OG achieved massive success, leading to milestones such as:


  • Setting a concurrent player record of over 5 million players
  • Reaching 44.7 million players in 24 hours
  • Players logging over 100 million hours in 24 hours

While Fortnite Remix Chapter 2 hasn’t reached the same player numbers as previous events, the return of iconic points of interest like Frenzy Farms, Slurpy Swamp, and Retail Row has still provided a nostalgic experience for players. Similarly, Overwatch Classic’s November 12 launch has struck a chord with the player base, offering newcomers a chance to experience the game as it was in Patch 1.0 while transporting veteran players back to 2016. Notably, the return of 6v6 in this mode is especially significant, as it’s a long-requested feature that has sparked ongoing debate since Overwatch 2 shifted to 5v5 team compositions in 2022.


Overwatch 2 Risks Opening Pandora’s Box by Making Classic a Permanent Mode

November and December are notable months for long-term fans of both Fortnite and Overwatch 2. Both games have seen the return of memorable early patches from their past, but only for a limited time. Fortunately, the announcement that Fortnite OG is returning permanently has somewhat softened the impact of Remix Chapter 2’s ending in a few weeks. On the other hand, if Blizzard is considering extending Overwatch Classic beyond a Limited Time Mode, it could risk undermining the identity of Overwatch 2.

Unlike Fortnite OG, which should become a permanent mode without many problems, a permanent Overwatch Classic might fuel criticism about Overwatch 2’s necessity, prompting players to question the purpose of the sequel. After all, when the game was first being marketed, its main selling points were its PvE story missions, which have since been shelved, and the transition to a single tank per team. Keeping Overwatch Classic as a recurring event seems like a safe idea, but making it a permanent mode would likely only invite more criticism from the fanbase that misses 6v6.


“Keeping Overwatch Classic as a recurring event seems like a safe idea, but making it a permanent mode would likely only invite more criticism from the fanbase.”

Furthermore, with Overwatch 2‘s 5v5 format under intense scrutiny, especially with 6v6 playtests on the horizon, it may be overwhelming for Team 4 to manage all these demands simultaneously. Too many separate modes could also lead to longer queue times, and this issue would likely worsen if multiple permanent modes were added. Given that some players already face extended queue times in the hero-shooter, it might be better for Blizzard to keep this event as a fun, limited-time Arcade mode.

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