After Becoming the Worst User-Reviewed Game Ever on Steam, Overwatch 2’s Recent Reviews Jump to ‘Mixed’

Overwatch 2 Season 15: A Resurgence of Hope?

Nearly nine years after the original Overwatch debuted, and two and a half years after Overwatch 2's launch, the game is showing signs of a remarkable turnaround. Remember August 2023, when Overwatch 2 earned the dubious distinction of being Steam's worst-reviewed game ever? The overwhelming negativity stemmed largely from monetization controversies and the controversial shift from a premium model to free-to-play, rendering the original unplayable. Further fueling the flames were setbacks like the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode.

While the overall Steam rating remains "mostly negative," a significant shift is underway. Recent reviews reveal a surge in positivity, with 43% of the 5,325 reviews submitted in the last 30 days being positive—a considerable improvement to "mixed." This positive trend is directly linked to Season 15's launch and its sweeping changes.

Season 15 didn't just add new content; it fundamentally altered core gameplay. The introduction of hero perks and the return of loot boxes have resonated strongly with players. Positive reviews reflect this sentiment: "They just released Overwatch 2," one player wrote, "The recent update is what the game should always have been before corporate greed got in the way." Another added, "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 resurgence comes amidst stiff competition from Marvel Rivals, a hugely popular hero shooter boasting 40 million downloads since its December launch. In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged this new competitive landscape, calling the situation "exciting" and Marvel Rivals' success "really great," even praising its innovative take on established Overwatch mechanics. Keller admitted, however, that Marvel Rivals' impact has forced Blizzard to adopt a bolder, less risk-averse approach to Overwatch 2.

While it's premature to declare Overwatch's triumphant return, Season 15 has undeniably injected new life into the game. Steam's peak concurrent player count has nearly doubled to 60,000. It's important to note that these figures represent only a fraction of the total player base across all platforms (Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox), where exact numbers remain undisclosed. For comparison, Marvel Rivals recently boasted 305,816 peak concurrent players on Steam. The future remains uncertain, but for now, Overwatch 2's Season 15 appears to be a significant step in the right direction.

Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots

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