Overwatch returns to its roots tomorrow

When I saw Overwatch’s announcement that the hero shooter would be launching an Overwatch Classic mode, my brittle bones cracked and my joints ached. It was like watching a younger cousin open a beer at a family gathering and I asked, “Are you old enough for this?”

Overwatch launched eight years ago, and regardless of whether that seems long enough for these types of events, it’s practically here.

Note: It is not a separate game: Overwatch Classic is a limited-time event in Overwatch 2, starting on November 12. The mode will last for three weeks and the announcement post references three specific eras (launch, the “moth meta” immediately after Mercy’s first rework and meta known as “Goats”, named after the team that popularized the triple tank and triple support composition.

It’s also not what the developers were talking about when they mentioned it plan to test 6v6 again. From the Frequently Asked Questions about Overwatch Classic: “Overwatch Classic is separate from our broader 6v6 plans. Overwatch Classic is intended to be a nostalgic experience, taking heroes, players and the game back to moments in the game’s history for limited-time events.”

It’s a surprising move for the game, but the kind of fun surprise that was sorely lacking before Overwatch 2 launched, and something we’ve been getting more and more of, especially over the past year.

Heroes really never die

Overwatch launched in 2016 – eight years ago, which is an eternity in gaming years. The game would go through a variety of controversial metas before a multi-year content drought, caused by the development of Overwatch 2 and exacerbated by the pandemic.

Overwatch 2 switched us to 5v5, removed the Assault game mode, added a few new ones, and introduced balance patches and communications from the developers more frequently. The game has evolved a lot, so in a way the amount of time that has passed between launch and now is irrelevant: the game has really changed, so an Overwatch Classic mode is a meaningful departure from the game’s current existence .

I’ve wondered for the last few years if the game would do something like this. The developers have been experimenting with game modes quite extensively over the past year, starting with last year’s Diablo IV event, which introduced upgradable skills, to things like Mirrorwatch and Junkenstein’s Lab, which put interesting twists on hero skills and game rules. There’s a playfulness to these events that we haven’t really seen since the first year of Overwatch’s release. Overwatch Classic feels like an extension of that.

It’s worth pointing out that Overwatch is hosting this event just a few weeks before the official release of the biggest competition it’s ever faced: Marvel Rivals, which releases on December 6. In addition to offering fans Marvel’s roster of recognizable characters, the game also features 6v6 gameplay without role locking, making it more similar to the launch of Overwatch than the current version of Overwatch 2. It appears that the Overwatch developers are joining the Rivals -using hype as an opportunity to try some old stuff (and new (we’ll soon also be testing today’s 6v6 and the new “max 3” limits).

Personally, I think this is all good news. Overwatch is at its best when it tries things and experiments with a mix of new and old ideas. Maybe the Overwatch classic has aged terribly, or maybe it’s a refreshing trip down memory lane. Even if it’s a flop, anything is better than the three-year content drought that preceded Overwatch 2’s launch.

Overwatch Classic runs from November 12 to December 2.