9 Images
Overwatch 2's Season 15 update has been positively received, marking a turnaround for the game that once held Steam's record for worst user reviews. Nearly nine years after Overwatch's 2016 debut and two-and-a-half years since Overwatch 2's launch, this season brings meaningful changes that are resonating with players.
When it launched on Steam in August 2023, Overwatch 2 became the platform's lowest-rated game ever, with criticism mainly targeting aggressive monetization practices. Blizzard faced backlash for converting the paid Overwatch into a free-to-play sequel while making the original inaccessible. The controversy continued with the cancellation of the promised PvE Hero mode - a feature many believed justified the sequel's existence.
While the game still holds a 'mostly negative' overall rating on Steam, recent evaluations show notable improvement to 'mixed'. Analysis of the last 5,325 reviews reveals 43% positive ratings - a significant achievement for a title that's faced relentless criticism on Valve's platform since release.
Season 15's overhaul includes foundational gameplay changes like:
- Introduction of hero perks system
- Return of fan-favorite loot boxes
- Core mechanics refinements
Player feedback reflects this shift in quality: "This update finally delivers what Overwatch 2 should have been from the start, before monetization overshadowed gameplay," one supporter wrote. Another noted: "Blizzard has genuinely improved - they're blending Overwatch 1's strengths with fresh mechanics effectively." Many attribute this revival to competition from Marvel Rivals, NetEase's hero shooter that's attracted 40 million players since December.
Game director Aaron Keller acknowledged to GamesRadar that Marvel Rivals presents unprecedented competition: "We're facing a similar competitor for the first time at this scale." Rather than viewing this as a threat, Keller finds it "exciting" to see another studio innovating within the genre they pioneered, stating it has pushed Blizzard to take more creative risks: "We're no longer playing it safe."
While Overwatch 2's Steam player count has nearly doubled to 60,000 concurrent users, it still trails Marvel Rivals' recent peak of 305,816 players. However, full player data remains unclear as Blizzard doesn't disclose Battle.net numbers and console platforms don't share active user statistics.
