Overwatch 2, a free-to-play sequel and replacement to the 2016 hero shooter from Blizzard Entertainment that swapped the original’s 6v6 gameplay with a smaller, 5v5 dynamic, will be running several tests to determine whether 6v6 should be introduced back into the series following growing demand from players, game director Aaron Keller has announced. Keller, who shared the news in a lengthy blog post on the official Blizzard site today, explained that part of the reason why Overwatch moved away from 5v5 was so the game could run with a higher level of performance across systems, as well as improved queue times.
Keller on what’s next for Overwatch 2:
- “…we’re looking at running a series of events to try out different core team composition formats in Overwatch 2. The community has, juuuust once or twice, suggested a test. Why not put various forms of 6v6 in the game in order to gauge the results?”
- “We agree, and based on your feedback, we’re exploring how we can test different forms of 6v6 in the game to gauge the results. This is taking some time, however, for reasons that may not be readily apparent.”
- “The first, and honestly largest, reason is the need to do this in a way that allows the game to have optimized technical performance (I’m referring to framerate and memory constraints) with 12 players in a match.”
- “In a 6v6 setting, these upgrades can have significant impacts for our players, causing the game to underperform on older systems. Overwatch is a fast-paced game, and maintaining a game that runs smoothly across all our platforms is important for the player’s experience.”
- “Another issue, and one that still gives me anxiety about opening this Pandora’s Box, is what to do with queue times if enough players prefer 6v6 to keep some form of it around. The team was not able to solve this issue previously. “
A chart that shows how queue times have improved between games:
Some recent Overwatch promos:
Game description:
Play for Free Today! Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s distinct heroes. Take them into battle across dozens of futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.