Overwatch 2’s Steam launch got off to a rough start with thousands of players leaving negative reviews.
Just 14% of the over 25,000 user reviews are positive, Steam’s own stats reveal, which has caused Overwatch 2 to carry an “overwhelmingly negative” rating on Valve’s platform.
Most of the negative reviews focus on one thing: monetisation. Blizzard was heavily-criticised when Overwatch 2 launched late 2022 as it forced its premium predecessor to update into a free-to-play sequel, rendering the original Overwatch unplayable.
Since then, Overwatch 2 has endured a number of controversies including the cancellation of its long-awaited PvE Hero mode — the one feature, players said, that justified the sequel’s existence.
Yesterday’s Steam launch, which came alongside the Invasion update, was seen as a surefire way to expand Overwatch 2’s playerbase. Indeed, Blizzard has said it now considers Overwatch 2 to have moved on from its early access phase. And while Overwatch 2 broke into the top five best-sellers on Steam by revenue and hit a peak concurrent player count of 52,349, reviewers have cast a shadow over the release.
One review, from Steam user Ornge, sums up the sentiment: “Overwatch 2 has no respect for you, it’s an attempt to pry open your wallet while masquerading as the game it used to be.”
The backlash revolves around Overwatch 2’s free-to-play nature, with heroes in the battle pass, the battle pass itself, and Blizzard’s new approach to cosmetics all highlighted as negative changes from the original Overwatch.
Fans also remain bitterly disappointed in Blizzard’s decision to ditch Overwatch 2’s planned PvE hero mode, despite the addition of new story missions with the Invasion update. These new story missions can only be played by forking out $15 for a dedicated bundle, and many Overwatch 2 players have said they’re not worth the money.
Blizzard recently told reporters it’s calm on declining player engagement with Overwatch 2, putting it down to the natural ebb and flow of being a free-to-play game. But, clearly, there’s a lot riding on this Invasion update, although Blizzard has downplayed its importance. All eyes will be on Activision Blizzard’s next financial report, where it will be expected to make some comment on the success or otherwise of Overwatch 2. If you’re considering jumping in, here’s everything you need to know about Overwatch 2 Invasion.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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