The rocky start of Overwatch 2 has been very well documented, as the controversy around the game began before it was even released. Fans were against the concept of 5v5 when they initially heard about it, and the decision to shut down the original Overwatch left many feeling disappointed. A buggy launch combined with microtransaction and progression complaints that remain unresolved only added to the list of issues, as did placing new heroes in the battle pass. Unfortunately, Overwatch 2 has not even entered its toughest time yet.
Blizzard has teased a particularly exciting skin for Overwatch 2 Season 3, and fans are also expecting the return of the maps Havana and Numbani. A brand-new map will be added to the game too, as well as some promised adjustments for the game’s progression system and earnable cosmetics. However, though all of this sounds good on paper, Season 3 will have to deal with something that neither of the first two Seasons did: the lack of a new hero.
Why Overwatch 2 Season 3 Not Having a New Hero is Concerning
Considering that Overwatch 2 has already been criticized for not being different enough from its predecessor, with modes like Push only having three maps, the main draw to play the game each Season has been the new heroes. Kiriko came in Season 1, with Ramattra following in Season 2, but Season 3 will mark the first gap between hero releases. Going forward, heroes will be released every other Season, with a map coming in the game’s “off” Seasons. This means that Season 3 will only feature a new map, as the next character is not coming until Season 4.
Season 3 marks the first Overwatch 2 Season without a new hero, and because of that, Blizzard could struggle to keep players invested in the game. For many, the Battle Pass could lose a lot of its worth, as many likely purchased the Premium version purely for early access to the new Hero. With very little to grind for outside of Overwatch 2 competitive ranks - which is a system that is also deeply flawed - players could end up skipping Season 3 entirely. For a live service title, that would be hugely problematic, so Blizzard has to give players several reasons to stick with the game.
How Overwatch 2 Can Survive a Hero-Less Season 3
First and foremost, Blizzard has to make sure that the promised cosmetic and progression changes deliver in a big way. If players are given several challenges to grind through that unlock more exciting rewards like skins, or a new Overwatch 2 currency to collect that lets them purchase cosmetics without spending real money, then they could keep playing the game to fill out their hero gallery. Account levels and something like Call of Duty’s Prestige system could go a long way to keeping players engaged, and perhaps the two could be combined, with players able to unlock a skin of their choosing each time they Prestige.
Aside from fixing one of Overwatch 2’s most glaring problems, Blizzard can address the concerns of ranked players, making it so that gamers can opt in to the old system to keep an eye on how their rank is changing with each match. A new, core PvP game mode has also been confirmed for a 2023 release, and this could be an excellent replacement for a hero in Season 3. In fact, dropping a new mode alongside a new map in all the Seasons without heroes would be a lot more appealing than only a new map. Season 3 could deliver the mysterious PvP mode, while Season 5 could bring Overwatch 2's highly anticipated PvE mode to players, giving them new things to do as they wait for more characters.
Lastly, the Season 3 Battle Pass for Overwatch 2 has to compensate for the lack of a hero, pushing players to buy the Premium version purely because the content offered is so good. One way to do this is by placing every themed skin inside the Battle Pass instead of putting a majority in the store, as these cosmetics have been very well-designed thus far. A few extra Legendary skins or even another Mythic could help make the next Battle Pass more appealing, too. Clearly, Blizzard has a big challenge ahead of it with Season 3. The promised changes have to be extensive, the Battle Pass has to be the best one yet, and content beyond a new map would go a long way to keeping fans hooked.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.