Overwatch 2's Steam Reviews Shift from Worst to Mixed

Overwatch 2 Season 15 is receiving positive feedback, marking a significant improvement in sentiment around a game that was once the most negatively reviewed on Steam. Since its debut in 2016, and the release of Overwatch 2 in 2022, the sequel faced severe criticism, especially following its transition to a free-to-play model that left the original Overwatch unplayable. In August 2023, the backlash peaked with Overwatch 2 becoming the worst user-reviewed game on Steam, largely due to its monetization practices and the cancellation of the much-anticipated PvE Hero mode.

Despite still holding a 'mostly negative' overall rating on Steam, recent reviews have shifted to 'mixed,' with 43% of the last 30 days' 5,325 user reviews being positive. This shift is attributed to the changes introduced in Season 15, which revamped core gameplay elements, including the addition of hero perks and the return of loot boxes. These updates have been well-received, with some players expressing that the game has finally returned to the essence of what made Overwatch 1 successful while integrating new, engaging mechanics.

Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots

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Positive reviews highlight the game's recent progress, with comments such as, "The recent update is what the game should always have been before corporate greed got in the way," and "Going back to what worked in Overwatch 1 while introducing new and fun mechanics to the game." These sentiments suggest that Blizzard's efforts to refine Overwatch 2 are starting to pay off.

The success of Marvel Rivals, a similar competitive hero shooter, has also influenced Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2. In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged the competitive landscape, noting that it's exciting to see another game take ideas from Overwatch in a different direction. He admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has spurred Blizzard to adopt a less cautious strategy with Overwatch 2, indicating a shift in their development mindset.

While it's premature to declare Overwatch 2 fully "back," the improvements in Season 15 have led to a notable increase in player numbers on Steam, with peak concurrent players nearly doubling to 60,000. However, it remains challenging for Overwatch 2 to move beyond a 'mixed' rating on Steam, given the history of user feedback. Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals continues to see strong numbers, with a peak of 305,816 concurrent players on Steam in the last 24 hours. It's important to note that Overwatch 2 is also available on Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox, where player numbers are not publicly disclosed.