Overwatch 1 has no future after Overwatch 2’s launch
Overwatch 2 will completely replace Overwatch when it is released this October, making it unbeatable the first entry in the hero shooter series.
Developer Blizzard clarified its plans to end the game following the release of Overwatch 2 in a developer AMA on Reddit (opens in new tab), When asked what the sequel’s launch would mean for Overwatch, game director Aaron Keller was clear: “When” [Overwatch 2] It will be a replacement for the current live service, launching on October 4.
The release of Overwatch 2 will overwrite the original game Wholesale. The sequel – with its major balance tweaks, map changes and switching from 6v6 to 5v5 matches – will be the only way to play the Overwatch series.
The game’s final destination has been a subject of confusion for some time. as a pc gamer (opens in new tab) Highlights, A Tweet (opens in new tab) “Overwatch 1 players and Overwatch 2 players will play side-by-side on the same map” sent in 2019 by the official Overwatch account, suggesting that the two games will go live simultaneously. This appears to have either been incorrectly suggested, or Blizzard changed the course of the series during the development of Overwatch 2.
more to come
The Reddit AMA also revealed what will happen to Overwatch 1 content that will not be included in Overwatch 2 at launch. Systems Designer Gavin Winter said (opens in new tab) Maps such as Temple of Anubis and Hanamura will be available to play in custom games, but will not be included in other modes at launch.
Winter said, “I have some ideas that I’d love to try to repurpose for new potential game modes, but these ideas may only see the light of day in the distant future given our current plans. ” “If we find a way to give them a new mod we want to do extensive testing in arcades or in other formats where we can get community feedback.”
Elsewhere at the AMA, Keller clarified why Overwatch 2 will launch with only three new heroes, two of whom — Sojourn and Junker Queen — have already appeared in the Overwatch 2 beta. Keller said (opens in new tab) Development resources were initially split between Overwatch 2’s PvE and PvP components, but as development of co-op content dragged on, the competitive multiplayer side was also affected.
“To be clear, there is no secret vault of full heroes and other content that we are keeping for future seasons,” Keller said. “As we continued to iterate on the PvE side of the game, this meant the schedule for PvP content and features got longer.”
However, more heroes are to come. As revealed by the recently released Overwatch 2 roadmap, Blizzard plans to introduce a new hero in each seasonal update. They’ll roll out every nine weeks after the game starts on October 4.