The original Overwatch has been going strong for over six years, but this October marks the end of the hero shooter, as it is going to be entirely replaced by Overwatch 2. Though the sequel shares many of the same qualities as Overwatch, it is definitely taking the ever-popular title into a new direction with a completely different team composition and revamped hero kits. Overwatch 2 is going to play much differently than its predecessor, and since fans will not be able to return to the original, many may find this final month of Overwatch to be bittersweet.
September 2022 will not only be the final month of Overwatch, but many of its current features that players have grown accustomed to as well. Overwatch 2 will introduce its own leveling system and competitive seasons in place of Overwatch’s, as well as brand-new and reworked heroes - with some changing roles altogether. All these changes are going to happen quickly, so players who like the current setup of Overwatch should enjoy this final season before the game transitions.
Overwatch’s Final Competitive Season
Over the course of its lifespan, Overwatch has had a total of 36 competitive seasons, all of which have had players working hard to achieve the highest possible rank and earn competitive points. Each season introduced character readjustments, new maps, or additional heroes, so even if players did not want to partake in the more competitive side of Overwatch, each new season meant the game was going to change in some fashion. Players ranging from Bronze rank to Top 500 will have one last go to obtain as many SR points as possible during season 36 before it ends on October 4 and the competitive ranking system is refreshed in Overwatch 2.
The sequel will still have competitive seasons, but is aiming to more finely tune the ranks in order to better show player skill and the work they have done to achieve their rank. Each competitive rank in Overwatch 2 will have five tiers, and a player’s rank will no longer be adjusted after a single match, but rather after a set of matches. This new system is Blizzard’s attempt to do away with the sometimes confusing and unpredictable SR points and better convey the player’s skill and dedication to each competitive season.
The Conclusion of 6v6 Battles and Restructuring of Heroes
Perhaps the biggest change coming to Overwatch 2 is its change in team size from six to five. Overwatch has made a name for itself as a hero shooter with very defined roles and teams consisting of a set amount of roles. With a six-person team in the original game, each team consists of two Tanks, two DPS, and two Support characters, with each team member serving an important role during the course of the match. While Overwatch 2 is keeping the same roles, it is restructuring the team composition in an attempt to create more dynamic battles between teams.
Developers want to change the pace of Overwatch 2 and are doing so by eliminating a Tank role from each team and reconfiguring many heroes’ kits to better suit a more mobile and aggressive playstyle. Though the changes to team size and heroes have not come without some controversy and disdain from the Overwatch community, Blizzard is standing by its decision to reformat the teams, meaning players who prefer shield-focused, slower-paced matches will only be able to enjoy six-person teams with two Tanks for one final season.
The Final Overwatch Special Event
Blizzard recently announced that Overwatch will be having one last event, dubbed the Credits Last Chance Event, which will allow players to use their in-game currency to purchase any seasonal cosmetic item ever released. Though it is not unlike Overwatch to allow players to purchase out-of-season items during particular events, this final sale will mark the end of Overwatch's current cosmetic store.
All cosmetics and currency from the original Overwatch will transfer to players as long as they have linked their accounts, but Overwatch 2’s Battle Pass progression system and use of currency will differ from its predecessor, which is likely why developers are opening up the seasonal cosmetics to be purchased before the end of Overwatch. The Credits Last Chance Event ends on October 2, giving players just enough time to accrue more credits in Overwatch before it is replaced by Overwatch 2.
Overwatch is out now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.