Iterative releases are something that fans of sports games are more accustomed to. Every year a new NBA, Madden , NHL, MLB or WWE game is released and they're rarely significant departures from the previous installment. These games are usually expected to release annually, so they typically feature nothing more than roster updates with maybe the occasional new mode or gameplay tweak. Yet, despite being essentially the same game – or in some cases being much worse than the game that came before – they'll still cost you the price of a triple-A rele

Overwatch’s corporate identity was clear to see through its diverse cast and clear attempts at inclusion, made worse by queer characters who were never given any strong narrative within the world itself. On the surface it was a bold statement, but dig any deeper, and you were left wanting so much more as Blizzard cultural representation chased demographic approval. Its universe had so much potential for excellent stories and worthwhile sociopolitical commentary, but this clear ambition was brushed aside as the years went on in favour of recycled seasonal events and development of a sequel that is only now lumbering towards the finish line. I once looked up to Overwatch, but now I can’t help but view its failings and cynical business practices for what they really are. I still love so much about it, and the warm memories it brings to the forefront of my mind are clear proof that Blizzard struck gold with this one.

Yet despite its defensive-focused design, the layout, which yields multiple paths and areas to flank, makes attacking more-than-doable for sharp teams. The fun Warcraft- esque themes throughout, coupled with the variance of areas and overall detail make Eichenwalde an optimal choice to revisit for Overwatch

Most notably, the DPS Hero’s mobility set is unknown. However, the BlizzConline video offers some potential hints via some concept art. It shows Sojourn sliding forward with booster jets coming from her back, knees, and calves. Perhaps this is her mysterious missing abil

Throughout the nearly forty-minute showcase, Blizzard shows only up to five players on a team at a time. There’s no explicit statement regarding this choice in presentation, but it could suggest that Overwatch 2 will introduce a team size-adjustment down to five play

But by essentially disabling the first Overwatch, Blizzard is fucking over people who paid money for the game. It doesn’t matter if they get free content for owning the first game - it doesn’t mean anything if you can’t still play original content you specifically paid for. I don’t care if Overwatch 2 is bigger and badder than ever before! When I buy a game, I’d love to be able to play that game. And if you’re shutting down a game’s online capabilities, at least be honest about it. Don’t talk like you’re doing people some grand favor.

If you owned the original Overwatch or pick up the Watchpoint Edition of Overwatch 2 you’ll unlock all heroes right away, otherwise free-to-play users will need to play a total of 100 matches to earn the entire roster, and that doesn’t include Kiriko unless you’ve already purchased the premium version of that battle pass. That make sense? I didn’t think so.

Which begs the question, if everything is going to be added into the first game, why do we even need a sequel? From the sound of things, it seems like Overwatch 2 should have been DLC instead of a separate full-price rele

One of these details is the names of some Heroes’ so-called Talent Trees. Each Hero has three trees, with seven tiers per tree. Soldier’s trees are called Commander, Rifleman, and Vigilante. Mercy’s are Field Medic, Valkyrie, and Savior. Reinhardt’s are Crusader, Juggernaut, and Guard

But Blizzard left out a few enemy types seen in a concept art image shown during the video. Most notable were the humanoid, Omnic grunt-looking bots with wings and red armor and an enormous, gorilla-like bot hulking over the rest in the lineup. These enemies may not appear in the final build, but it’s interesting to wonder what they might

A shot of Reinhardt’s Talent Trees offers a lot of information. In the BlizzConline video, the player browses the Tank Hero’s available upgrades, including some wild abilities like Baldrich’s Stand, Shield Bash, and Overhead Smash. Baldrich’s Stand grants Reinhardt large armor and damage buffs when his shield breaks. Shield Bash stuns enemies with a forward bash of the shield — much like Brigitte’s ability. Overhead Smash grants a damage buff and Stun abilities after two consecutive hits with the Rocket Ham

Even getting past the heavy use of Blizzard gimmicks, the layout of the map itself can also be annoying. With its narrow passageways and higher-level paths that criss-cross it, any defending team worth its salt tends to have a huge advantage; especially near the bottleneck that makes up the beginning/Assault portion of the game. The only real advantage for the attackers tends to be the indoor portion at the end - but good luck making it th