Overwatch 2's Steam Reviews Surge to 'Mixed' After Hitting Rock Bottom

Overwatch 2 Season 15 is making waves, signaling a positive shift in sentiment for a game that once held the title of the worst user-reviewed game on Steam. Since its debut in 2016, Overwatch has come a long way, and Overwatch 2, launched two-and-a-half years later, faced significant backlash, particularly after becoming the lowest-rated game on Steam in August 2023. The criticism was largely due to its monetization strategy, which followed Blizzard's controversial decision to convert the original Overwatch into a free-to-play sequel, making the first game unplayable in 2022.

Further fueling discontent was the cancellation of the much-anticipated PvE Hero mode, which many believed was the cornerstone of the sequel's justification. Despite these setbacks, Overwatch 2 has shown signs of recovery. While its overall user review rating on Steam remains 'mostly negative,' recent reviews have shifted to 'mixed,' with 43% of the 5,325 reviews in the last 30 days being positive. This change is noteworthy, especially considering the game's history of negative feedback since its launch on Steam.

The turnaround can be attributed to Season 15, which introduced significant changes to the game. Alongside new content, the core gameplay has undergone a major overhaul, including the introduction of hero perks and the return of loot boxes. These updates have been well-received, as reflected in recent positive reviews.

Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots

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Players have praised the latest update, with one stating, "The recent update is what the game should always have been before corporate greed got in the way." Another review expressed satisfaction, saying, "For once, I must come to Overwatch's defense and say they really have stepped up their game. Going back to what worked in Overwatch 1 while introducing new and fun mechanics to the game. A certain game made them LOCK IN and I couldn't be happier. Now we just gotta wait for next season with an actual cooler battlepass."

This positive sentiment is partly due to the competitive pressure from Marvel Rivals, a similar hero shooter from NetEase that has garnered 40 million downloads since its December launch. In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged the new competitive landscape, describing it as "exciting" and "really great" to see Marvel Rivals take Overwatch's established ideas in new directions.

Keller also admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has prompted Blizzard to adopt a bolder approach to Overwatch 2, stating, "this is no longer about playing it safe." While it's premature to claim that Overwatch is fully "back," the recent improvements in Steam reviews and the uptick in player numbers to nearly 60,000 peak concurrent users suggest a positive trajectory. It's important to note, however, that Overwatch 2 is also available on Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox, where player numbers are not disclosed.

For comparison, Marvel Rivals recently saw 305,816 peak concurrent players on Steam over the last 24 hours, highlighting the competitive environment Overwatch 2 is navigating.