'Overwatch 2' (Image: Blizzard)
Longtime Overwatch fans will be happy to learn that they can currently play Overwatch 2 with the original rules, hero kits and other features that were present in the original Overwatch but were removed from the sequel. This limited-time event, which Blizzard is calling Overwatch Classic, launched on Nov. 12 and will be available for three weeks.
The first Overwatch game was an absolute hit when it first released in May 2016. Players loved the online multiplayer first-person shooter for its charming characters, team-based combat and unique gameplay. It was such a hit, in fact, that the game won The Game Award for Game of the Year in 2016 when it was released and has won many more awards since. Overwatch also became an instant classic in the Esports community.
So fans were overjoyed when Blizzard announced the sequel, Overwatch 2, in 2019. However, when the game initially released in 2022, it was met with some mixed reviews and to this day is rated with a 5/10 on Steam.
As it turns out, Blizzard failed to deliver on several promises they made to players regarding Overwatch 2, so many fans were let down by how the game had been changed from the original title.
But right now, fans of the original Overwatch gameplay are in luck with the three-week-long Overwatch Classic event as they can once again enjoy some of the game style that was lost to them in Overwatch 2. This event will feature Overwatch’s original cast with their original ability sets. The game will also feature the original 6v6 rules rather than the current 5v5 rules. Two-tank player compositions will be allowed once more as well as no-limit mode, which allows players to play as whichever characters they choose without restrictions. Some old favorite maps will also be returning such as Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, and Volskaya Industries.
Fans should know that Overwatch Classic is not a permanent solution to 6v6 returning to the game. Blizzard’s official blog post about the event details in the FAQ section that they are “running separate 6v6 test modes in future seasons to gather feedback and gauge player interest on that format.” It may be a little while longer until more concrete changes are made to the game in this regard, so players should enjoy this returning feature while they can before the event ends on Dec. 2.
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