Overwatch 2’s Steam launch obtained off to a tough begin with 1000’s of gamers leaving unfavourable opinions.
Simply 14% of the over 25,000 person opinions are optimistic, Steam’s personal stats reveal, which has precipitated Overwatch 2 to hold an “overwhelmingly unfavourable” score on Valve’s platform.
A lot of the unfavourable opinions deal with one factor: monetisation. Blizzard was heavily-criticised when Overwatch 2 launched late 2022 because it compelled its premium predecessor to replace right into a free-to-play sequel, rendering the unique Overwatch unplayable.
Since then, Overwatch 2 has endured a variety of controversies together with the cancellation of its long-awaited PvE Hero mode — the one characteristic, gamers stated, that justified the sequel’s existence.
Yesterday’s Steam launch, which got here alongside the Invasion replace, was seen as a surefire solution to develop Overwatch 2’s playerbase. Certainly, Blizzard has stated it now considers Overwatch 2 to have moved on from its early entry section. And whereas Overwatch 2 broke into the highest 5 best-sellers on Steam by income and hit a peak concurrent participant depend of 52,349, reviewers have forged a shadow over the discharge.
One evaluate, from Steam person Ornge, sums up the sentiment: “Overwatch 2 has no respect for you, it is an try to pry open your pockets whereas masquerading as the sport it was once.”
The backlash revolves round Overwatch 2’s free-to-play nature, with heroes within the battle cross, the battle cross itself, and Blizzard’s new method to cosmetics all highlighted as unfavourable modifications from the unique Overwatch.
Followers additionally stay bitterly disillusioned in Blizzard’s resolution to ditch Overwatch 2’s deliberate PvE hero mode, regardless of the addition of recent story missions with the Invasion replace. These new story missions can solely be performed by forking out $15 for a devoted bundle, and lots of Overwatch 2 gamers have stated they’re not well worth the cash.
Blizzard just lately informed reporters it’s calm on declining participant engagement with Overwatch 2, placing it right down to the pure ebb and stream of being a free-to-play recreation. However, clearly, there’s quite a bit driving on this Invasion replace, though Blizzard has downplayed its significance. All eyes will probably be on Activision Blizzard’s subsequent monetary report, the place it is going to be anticipated to make some touch upon the success or in any other case of Overwatch 2. In the event you’re contemplating leaping in, here is all the things you might want to find out about Overwatch 2 Invasion.
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You possibly can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.