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

Overwatch 2 Season 15: A Resurgence from the Brink?

Overwatch 2, launched two and a half years after its predecessor, faced a tumultuous start. In August 2023, it earned the dubious distinction of being Steam's worst-reviewed game ever, largely due to controversies surrounding monetization and the controversial shift to a free-to-play model that rendered the original unplayable. Further fueling the negativity was the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, a key feature many players felt justified the sequel's existence.

Despite retaining a "mostly negative" overall Steam rating, a recent surge in positive reviews has pushed the game's recent review score to "mixed." A remarkable 43% of the 5,325 reviews submitted in the last 30 days were positive—a significant shift for a game previously mired in overwhelmingly negative feedback.

This turnaround is largely attributed to Season 15, which introduced substantial changes to the core gameplay. The addition of hero perks and the return of loot boxes have resonated positively with players.

Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots

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Player feedback reflects this positive shift. Comments like, "They just released Overwatch 2," and "The recent update is what the game should always have been before corporate greed got in the way," highlight the impact of Season 15's changes. Another player stated, "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 sentiment points to a return to elements appreciated in the original game, combined with fresh mechanics. The mention of a competitor, Marvel Rivals, further underscores the competitive pressure influencing these changes.

The emergence of Marvel Rivals, a hugely popular competitor 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 competitive landscape, stating that the success of Marvel Rivals has prompted a shift away from "playing it safe."

While declaring Overwatch 2's complete comeback is premature, the positive reception to Season 15 is undeniable. Steam's peak concurrent player count has nearly doubled to 60,000. It's important to note that these figures represent only the Steam player base; the game's availability on Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox means the overall player count is significantly higher. For comparison, Marvel Rivals recently boasted 305,816 peak concurrent players on Steam. The future remains uncertain, but Season 15 has undoubtedly injected new life into Overwatch 2.