Overwatch 2 players are claiming that Blizzard's canceled PvE plans have led to disgruntled players throwing Competitive matches in protest. The recent announcement that Blizzard would not be delivering the massive PvE update initially said to define the release of Overwatch 2 has left many players frustrated. It seems some are taking their frustrations to an extreme, going so far as to ruin Overwatch 2 matches for other players to assuage their own anger.
The frustrations revolving around Blizzard's PvE plans are just the latest example of hostile activism within video game communities. Boycotts, which remain prevalent, are a tame example of what seems everpresent anymore. Escalations include review bombing games on platforms like Steam, as players seek to damage games' reputations in a way that can cause financial distress. Beyond that, harassment of game developers is also horrifyingly common despite their not being involved in executive-level decision-making.
Rarely does activism move into a game, though, where it impacts players in a tangible way. Yet that appears to be the goal of some Overwatch 2 players. A Reddit thread titled "Decided to go pay ranked... i regret it" created by a user called Zyrus_Vaeles features a screen capture of the match's chat, revealing a player stating they'll be "throwing the game" due to a protest over Overwatch 2's PvE controversy. They note the protest is originating from the Overwatch subreddit, though there's no indication of an organized effort.
This isn't the only example of Overwatch 2 players protesting the PvE controversy by throwing Competitive matches. Another post on Reddit created by justauz asks "What's with a lot more people intentionally not playing?" In the thread, there's mention of other players throwing games due to the PvE controversy. While it's likely a very rare occurrence, that it's happening with some frequency is somewhat shocking.
There are some questions about whether these Overwatch 2 players are genuinely protesting the PvE controversy or have ulterior motives. There are plenty of examples of players in Overwatch and Overwatch 2 throwing games just because, after all. They don't need a reason. The Blizzard PvE discourse may simply be a topical excuse to troll teammates or be toxic.
Overwatch 2's PvE situation is absolutely controversial. And there are some good arguments as to why Overwatch fans should be disappointed with Blizzard and should protest in constructive ways to prompt changes. Extending those protests into hostile behavior in Overwatch 2 matches is a controversy on its own, however, but may be representative of increasing toxicity within the online gaming space. Hopefully, the situation doesn't grow worse from here.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.