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

Overwatch 2 Season 15 is proving to be a turning point, significantly improving player sentiment and potentially rescuing the game from its infamous "worst ever" Steam review ranking. Nearly nine years after the original Overwatch's debut and two and a half years after Overwatch 2's launch, the game faced a tumultuous period. In August 2023, it plummeted to the bottom of Steam's user review rankings, largely due to criticisms surrounding its monetization and the controversial transition from a premium title to a free-to-play model that rendered the original unplayable. Further controversies, including the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, added fuel to the fire.

While still holding a "mostly negative" overall rating on Steam, recent reviews show a marked shift towards "mixed," with 43% of the 5,325 reviews submitted in the past 30 days being positive. This is a significant achievement considering the overwhelming negativity that has plagued the game since its release on Steam.

This positive shift is largely attributed to Season 15's impactful changes. While the future roadmap includes expected new content, the core gameplay has undergone a substantial overhaul. Key additions, such as hero perks and the return of loot boxes, appear to be resonating with players.

Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots

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Positive player feedback reflects this sentiment: "They just released Overwatch 2," one recent review states. "The recent update is what the game should always have been before corporate greed got in the way." Another player echoes this, commenting, "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 positive feedback even references the popular competitor, Marvel Rivals, highlighting the pressure to improve.

The success of Marvel Rivals, a similar hero shooter 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 competition, calling the situation "exciting" and Marvel Rivals' success "really great," even noting its innovative take on established Overwatch mechanics. However, Keller also admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has pushed Blizzard to adopt a more assertive, less risk-averse strategy for Overwatch 2, stating, "this is no longer about playing it safe."

While it's premature to declare Overwatch's triumphant return, the positive shift in Steam reviews and a near doubling of peak concurrent players on the platform to 60,000 (with player numbers on other platforms unavailable) suggests a significant improvement. It's important to note that Overwatch 2 is also available on Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox. For comparison, Marvel Rivals recently recorded 305,816 peak concurrent players on Steam. The future remains uncertain, but Season 15 has undeniably injected new life into Overwatch 2.