In a recent announcement, Blizzard has stated its intentions to scrap PvE mode for Overwatch 2, believing it more important to hone in on PvP content.
Regardless of the small handful of features, characters, and adjustments to the competitive scene, Overwatch 2 felt like nothing more than an expansion to the original 2016 game.
Yet, Blizzard wanted to “redefine” what a sequel meant with Overwatch 2.
Unfortunately, the only big thing that truly made it stand out in terms of the word “sequel” was the promise of an increased emphasis on player-versus-environment (PvE) activities, which was briefly introduced in the original game in the form of seasonal events. It had players fighting against hordes of enemy mobs until a certain score was reached.
Overwatch 2, like its predecessor (that no longer exists), is primarily a hero-based player-versus-player (PvP) shooter that pits two teams against each other in glorious first-person combat.
Blizzard took great measures in the past to expand the world of Overwatch into comics and highly-detailed animated shorts. Unfortunately, the developer no longer wants to carry this into the game.
According to Aaron Keller, the game’s director, and Jared Neuss, the executive producer, the team made the “difficult choice” to take the game in another direction. While story missions are still coming, the much-anticipated hero mode is not. That means no power progression, talents, or really anything that was meant to sell Overwatch 2 as a “sequel.”
The developers have since provided clarification on this news, stating that the game will still be receiving co-op story missions.