Former Overwatch 2 developers had high hopes for the game’s story missions, with the intention of releasing new missions every 18 months. The idea was to set the game apart from its predecessor by offering an expansive co-op PVE element. However, plans changed last summer, and the PVE element was replaced with story-based PvE missions. Three missions were added in August 2023, with the promise of more to come in the future.
Despite the initial excitement surrounding the new story missions, things have not gone as smoothly as planned. Former developers, who chose to remain anonymous, have shared their experiences working on the game’s story content. They revealed that while some missions are fully playable, others are still in the concept stage. Blizzard’s intention was to release three missions every 18 months, but this timeline has not been met.
The released story missions did not meet expectations, falling short of the “serious numbers” Blizzard was hoping for. They also received a lukewarm response from players. In January, layoffs hit the Overwatch 2 team, with many of those laid off being individuals working on the game’s story and PVE elements. The development of the story missions has been hindered by various challenges, including the pursuit of ‘Blizzard Quality,’ which has led to repeated revisions and delays.
Adapting Overwatch’s gameplay for the story missions has proved to be a significant challenge. The hero kits’ PvP-focused nature made it difficult to translate the gameplay into a PVE environment. Additionally, the competitive aspect of the game was prioritized from the beginning, resulting in more time and resources being allocated to it. This focus on the competitive side of the game has raised doubts about the future of the story missions.
While the fate of Overwatch 2’s story missions remains uncertain, the challenges faced during development and the lukewarm reception of the released content do not paint a promising picture. The focus on competitive gameplay and the pursuit of ‘Blizzard Quality’ have contributed to delays and revisions, making it difficult to get the story missions out the door. Fans will have to wait for official word from Blizzard to know for sure what lies ahead for the game.
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