In a delightful turn of events, popular shooter games seem to be embracing nostalgia, rekindling the magic of their earlier days. Following in the footsteps of Fortnite, which reintroduced its original map last year, and Apex Legends, currently revisiting its roots, Overwatch is poised to join the trend with its own nostalgic offering.
Overwatch: Classic
Blizzard Entertainment has announced the launch of Overwatch: Classic, a limited-time mode within Overwatch 2 that aims to recreate the essence of the game as it was on its initial release. While it won’t be a perfect replica—maps, user interface, and sound effects will remain aligned with Overwatch 2—the gameplay will harken back to the original mechanics. Players can expect familiar hero dynamics: D.Va’s mech will once again explode upon destruction, Torbjorn will distribute armor packs, and Mercy will regain her ability to resurrect her entire team simultaneously.
This new mode will also serve as a testing ground for 6v6 matches, allowing the development team to gather valuable feedback on hero balance and queue times. Game director Aaron Keller noted that this is an opportunity to assess how players respond to a larger player count in matches. “I think that when players are asking for 6v6 they’re asking for something different than Classic,” he explained, emphasizing that this format will provide a unique stress test for the game’s engine.
The announcement indicates that Overwatch: Classic will become a recurring event, featuring heroes and balance adjustments inspired by significant moments in the game’s history. However, the specifics of future iterations remain uncertain. “It really depends on how players actually latch onto Classic,” said game designer Dawson. Potential future modes could include nostalgic metas, such as the famed ‘Goats’ meta from 2018, or even variations showcasing heroes at their most powerful states.
Players have expressed a desire for more lighthearted modes that diverge from the intense competition characteristic of the sequel. The success of Junkenstein’s Laboratory, where players could modify hero abilities through unique talents, demonstrated this appetite. Keller reported that approximately 35% of playtime in Overwatch was dedicated to this mode on its launch day, prompting Blizzard to implement a balance patch and extend its availability.
“We want to make sure that players who love the world of Overwatch, who love our heroes, have something that’s a little bit less stressful, a little bit less locked in,” Dawson remarked, highlighting the team’s commitment to enhancing the player experience.
Overwatch: Classic is set to go live on Tuesday, November 12, inviting players to step back in time and enjoy the game as it was meant to be played.
