Overwatch 2 - Gaming Sequels DON'T WORK

A Standalone Sequel That Doesn’t Stand Alone

As Jeff Kaplan and the team have made clear several times, Overwatch 2 and the original game are intended to coexist harmoniously. The title of the sequel suggests a brand-new boxed (or digital, naturally) experience, but that isn’t technically the case.

Overwatch 2 will be available in and of itself, but it will share an online environment with the first game. New stages, modes and additions to the hero roster will be available to players of both.

With a huge international smash-hit like Overwatch (and its vast competitive scene), it was crucial that the team didn’t split the playerbase, or simply jump ship from the first game to the second on the sequel’s launch day. The intent was for the transition to be (literally) seamless, but at the same time, the risk here is that the sequel itself could be devalued.

If Overwatch 2 is seen as nothing more than a glorified expansion pack, it’s just not doing all of the new content it’s going to deliver justice. What more could Blizzard have done, though?