Overwatch 2’s Rumored Map Changes Have an Obvious Culprit

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 30, 2024 2 Views 7 Min Read
Overwatch 2’s Rumored Map Changes Have an Obvious Culprit

Rumors have surfaced that Blizzard may be considering some changes to the maps in Overwatch 2, including adding weather effects and destructible environments. If adding destructible environments to a hero shooter sounds familiar, it may be because Overwatch 2 might have taken inspiration from an upcoming competitor.




In a recent survey, players were asked questions regarding new maps and features for Overwatch 2, leading many to believe that changes are coming to the game’s arenas. Notably, an entirely new map based on a Mars colony was teased, as well as new effects and hazards that would go along with it. The idea of the game adding new content is hardly newsworthy, as new heroes and maps are added frequently, but the likely reason behind these potential map changes is. Fans of the hero shooter genre no doubt know that Marvel Rivals, Marvel’s take on the genre, is due to debut next month. With rumors of destructible environments headed to Overwatch 2, it leaves players wondering if Blizzard might have borrowed the idea in order to help compete with Overwatch 2’s newest rival.

Marvels Rivals Hawkeye Overwatch Hanzo

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Overwatch 2’s New Map Features Might Help it Stay Alive


The timing of new environmental effects in Overwatch 2 is slightly suspect given the upcoming arrival of a game that some are calling the ‘Overwatch Killer.’ Whether Marvel Rivals takes down the gaming giant is yet to be seen, but the company does bring with it some attention-grabbing heroes along with a lot of hype from comic fans. Because destructible environments are confirmed for Marvel Rivals’ release, the same feature being added to Overwatch 2 may be Blizzard’s attempt to stay on equal footing.

Blizzard choosing to implement weather effects is also a very interesting development. This is a feature that Marvel Rivals doesn’t have, except for the powers of Storm, which only affect certain targets. Some may see the implementation of weather in addition to destructible environments as a way to try and 1-up Marvel Rivals by including even more stage-related effects, but there is the possibility that this is just a coincidence. Overwatch 2 was planned to feature weather effects early on, so the new hazards might just be the result of a long development process, although the timing is very convenient if that is the case.


Will Overwatch 2 Survive Marvel Rivals’ Release

The idea that Marvel Rivals could kill the fan base of Overwatch 2 isn’t a new one. As soon as the media powerhouse of Marvel revealed a game in the same genre, people began to compare the two. With Overwatch 2’s rocky release, some players from the era of the classic Overwatch never rejoined the game, leaving a prime player base for Marvel Rivals to earn. The game’s preview period saw success too, though some who got to experience it reported that the two games are only similar because they are in the same genre. That may be a good sign for Overwatch 2, showing that Marvel Rivals isn’t actively trying to poach its players. However, intentional or not, fans of the hero shooter genre may choose to try the new game in favor of the old one, at least when it first hits consoles. Marvel Rivals has big plans for its player base when it releases on December 6th, so Overwatch 2 may need to fight back.


The next season of Overwatch 2 begins on December 15th, almost a week after the release of Marvel Rivals. In theory, this might be enough time for players to experience the new game, then jump back to Overwatch 2 for the new content. The release window of the season feels in some ways targeted, because Blizzard surely knows that Overwatch 2’s 14th season must be successful in order to stay afloat. With a new hero debuting in season 14, as well as the recent addition of the Overwatch: Classic mode, Blizzard is clearly doing all it can to appeal to players new and old in response to what might be a very strong rival in its genre.

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