Overwatch 2 Season 15 has breathed new life into the game, significantly improving player sentiment and marking a turning point from its previously disastrous reception on Steam. Nearly nine years after the original Overwatch's debut and two and a half years after Overwatch 2's launch, the game had sunk to the lowest user review rating on Steam in August 2023, largely due to controversial monetization practices and the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode.
While the overall Steam rating remains "mostly negative," recent reviews show a remarkable shift towards "mixed," with 43% of the 5,325 reviews submitted in the last 30 days being positive. This positive swing is directly attributed to Season 15's impactful changes, including the introduction of hero perks and the return of loot boxes. These core gameplay adjustments, alongside the expected new content roadmap, have resonated strongly with players.
Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots
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Positive player feedback reflects this sentiment: "They just released Overwatch 2," one review states, "The recent update is what the game should always have been before corporate greed got in the way." Another player adds, "For once, I must come to Overwatch's defense and say they really have stepped up their game. Going back to what worked in Overwatch 1 while introducing new and fun mechanics." This positive reception also acknowledges the influence of the popular competitor, Marvel Rivals, stating, "A certain game made them LOCK IN and I couldn't be happier. Now we just gotta wait for next season with an actual cooler battlepass.”
The emergence of Marvel Rivals, boasting 40 million downloads since its December launch, has undeniably impacted Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2. In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged the intensified competition, calling the situation "exciting" and praising Marvel Rivals for taking established Overwatch concepts in "a different direction." However, Keller also admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has forced Blizzard to adopt a more assertive strategy for Overwatch 2, emphasizing that "this is no longer about playing it safe."
While it's premature to declare Overwatch's triumphant return, the positive shift in Steam reviews and a near doubling of peak concurrent players on the platform to 60,000 (with overall player numbers across all platforms remaining undisclosed) indicate a significant improvement. This contrasts sharply with Marvel Rivals' recent 24-hour peak of 305,816 concurrent players on Steam. The future of Overwatch 2 remains uncertain, but Season 15 has undeniably provided a much-needed boost.
