Overwatch Classic’s Success is a Big Win For Old School Fans

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 10, 2024 15 Views 7 Min Read
Overwatch Classic's Success is a Big Win For Old School Fans



Blizzard Entertainment added a healthy dollop of nostalgia to Overwatch 2 with the limited-time mode, Overwatch: Classic. Although it’s been over for more than a week at this time, game director Aaron Keller noted via an X post that it sustained a good level of player engagement throughout its runtime. According to Keller, 36% of player hours garnered at launch, which is considered “high for an event mode.” Further, the limited-time Overwatch 2 event ended at about 11% of all players (a drop from 71% at the start). Given these numbers, Keller claimed Classic to be the game’s “4th most popular mode at the time.”




The limited-time event’s run was hyped more for a return to the 6v6 format than anything else. This was a long time coming since Overwatch 2’s change to a 5v5 format was jarring for many fans, especially with new heroes and ability changes added to the mix. Fortunately for old-school fans, the game is poised for more 6v6 tests in Season 14. A permanent return for 6v6 or Classic hasn’t been announced yet, but things may change.

Overwatch Tracer sad cutscene

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Overwatch 2: Why a 6v6 vs. 5v5 Compromise Would Be The Worst Possible Outcome

Overwatch 2 is currently at an important crossroads regarding team size, and one potential decision would be very bad for the game’s longevity.

A Permanent Overwatch 2 6v6 Mode May Have More Fans Than Realized

Overwatch: Classic’s success in less than a month’s runtime has shown that many fans are still fond of the 6v6 chaos. A part of it was certainly due to curiosity of experiencing how Version 1.0 stands the test of time. The bigger part, potentially, was due to larger party size, chaotic matches, and ridiculous metas. This is what players may find again if a 6v6 mode is permanently added to the game.


Overwatch 2 improves upon the original title in many ways—not only in terms of gameplay. And yet, the 5v5 party can be a bit restrictive and put a lot of pressure on the solo tank, amid other challenges. If a permanent 6v6 mode is brought in, it could open up the game to a highly varied meta given the current roster. Unranked has already given a taste of what such combinations can look like, with pairings like Zarya-Reinhardt and Doomfist-D.Va being incredibly fun to play but tough to take down.

Being able to play with a bigger party, having more freedom in Role and Open Queue, and having team compositions that are perhaps more fun—all of these sound like real possibilities that would refresh the gameplay and breathe more life into the experience. Big, fun changes are always something fans look forward to in live-service games, especially when they have multiple choices available at any moment.


Overwatch 2’s Upcoming 6v6 Tests Signal Blizzard’s Intentions

Overwatch 2 Season 14 starts today, December 10, and will play host to a couple of 6v6 mode tests: Min. 1, Max. 3 and Classic 2-2-2. Based on the throwback LTM’s reception and future testing, it seems Blizzard is considering bringing 6v6 team-ups back. This could be permanent down the line, or just random limited-time events when things are a bit dry.

Naturally, being forced to consider an additional player can sound a bit intimidating, especially to newcomers and those who started with the sequel. However, fans concerned about unbalanced, over-the-top heroes may rest easy as it seems the developers are studious in their testing.

During an interview with content creator Spilo, lead gameplay designer Alec Dawson teased balance changes for Overwatch 2’s upcoming 6v6 tests. These include reversing Roadhog’s rework, and changing other heroes’ cooldowns, tweaking abilities, and more. The tests may not be a home run right out of the gate, as such things rarely are anyway. It still looks like there’s a good chance that this could take off, and make the game look quite different in a year.


Overwatch 2’s 6v6 Mode May Help It Stand Against Rivals

A bunch of new party-based multiplayer games rolled in this year. Two particular highlights, Deadlock and Marvel Rivals, sport 6v6 party sizes and healthy player bases. The two don’t check every game mechanic that Overwatch 2 hosts, but the similarities and overall aim are enough to make them direct competitors.

A big part is how both Deadlock and Marvel Rivals have big rosters. Experiencing characters both new and familiar, coming up with new meta-team compositions, and special limited-time modes always garner hype. Of the two, Rivals seems like the closer competitor, given that it uses the massive Marvel IP to bring in thousands of fans.

Moreover, players are now getting used to larger teams. If Blizzard adds a permanent 6v6 mode to Overwatch 2, players won’t have to skip it just because they have one more party member available. A component like this may seem a bit nitpicky, yes. And yet, every little advantage counts when the market is rife with strong competitors.

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