Overwatch 2024 has been a bit of a mixed year for the game. As the sequel’s enters its longer life, Overwatch has faced some of its toughest competition to date, and come up a little short. For the dedicated player base, there remains a lot to get excited for with Overwatch, but the title’s popularity has definitely been higher.
As we close out 2024 or Overwatch, the game has launched a brand-new season. Along with finally getting those 6-v-6 trials. However, to many it feels like too little and too late. Especially with the increased competition from other games and a strange start to Overwatch esports for the year. What are the highlights for Overwatch 2024 and where does the game go from here?
Source: Blizzard
A New Competitive Format for Overwatch 2024
One of the biggest new changes for Overwatch in 2024 was the Overwatch Champions Series. A brand-new competitive format. It was out with the league and its franchise model, and in with new open format for the game.
The title has never been easy to get into competitively. However, it seems the change might have come a little late. Viewership for the tournament has continued to stagnate and it seems like the new format has failed to revitalize things. However, now free of the rough franchise model this new format could run and run for overwatch.
While it’s a better format, when looking at the top Overwatch teams of 2024 there’s a clear trend. The big teams from the last final, a lot of them have basically left the game now. Just months later. Even with a new format, it feels like Overwatch competitive is continuing to shrink as we wrap the year up.
Overwatch Classic and 6-v-6
In-game, maybe the most impactful change of the year wasn’t a new hero, but the return of something older. Late in 2024 for Overwatch, we got a return to the earliest days of Overwatch’s meta. Overwatch Classic launched, giving a taste of how the game used to play.
While a fun flashback, it was a bit of a mixed blessing. It failed to provide the major jump to the Overwatch player base that games like Fortnite get from bringing back old seasons. It also kind of distracted from the 6-v-6 trial of the current meta that was still upcoming.
By the time both events had played out, it looked like Overwatch Classic might have massively disrupted the chance or 6-v-6 to prove the more popular format. It also seems that there’s little in reserve that could bring back Overwatch’s bigger player numbers, even nostalgic content.
Source: Blizzard
New Rivals
Towards the end of Overwatch 2024, another hero shooter became harder and harder to avoid. Marvel Rivals is a huge new game that takes heavy inspiration from Overwatch. However, with features like no role lock and some interesting tools for heroes, there’s a lot to like with the game.
You can see the problem just about everywhere. Players are playing more Marvel Rivals than Overwatch, even most Overwatch streamers are making the jump. Now the title is out in full, it looks like it has legs too.
Image via Netmarble
In the face of increased competition, Overwatch hasn’t held up the best. Marvel Rivals has proven an entertaining alternative.
Overwatch hasn’t had the strongest 2024. However, it has held onto a sizeable core player. base. While far from its heights of popularity, the game is healthy enough. If its 2025 goes anything like 2024 though, the game might start to run into some bigger trouble soon.