Overwatch 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the popular team-based shooter, has recently made history on Steam by becoming the worst-reviewed game on the platform. Publisher Blizzard, known for keeping its PC games exclusive to the Battle.net client, made the surprising decision to release Overwatch 2 on Steam. However, this move backfired as the game was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews. Let’s delve into the factors that have contributed to the disappointing reception of Overwatch 2 on Steam.
One of the major criticisms leveled against Overwatch 2 is its approach to locking heroes and cosmetics behind a battle pass. This change in the game’s monetization strategy did not sit well with long-time fans who had enjoyed the original Overwatch’s more accessible system. Furthermore, the cancellation of Overwatch 2’s long-advertised PvE mode, which was supposed to be an always-on game mode allowing players to level up their preferred heroes through story missions, disappointed players who were looking forward to an immersive experience.
Interestingly, a significant portion of the negative reviews for Overwatch 2 on Steam are from Simplified Chinese users. This can be attributed to the shutdown of regional servers in China due to a disagreement between Blizzard and its Chinese distributor NetEase. The termination of their 14-year partnership resulted in Chinese gamers resorting to VPNs to access the game. The release of Overwatch 2 on Steam provided an opportunity for these players to voice their concerns about the game’s changes and express their frustration over the reliance on VPNs, causing slow logins and connection issues.
Within just three days of its release, Overwatch 2 managed to surpass the Chinese card-battle game War of the Three Kingdoms as the worst-reviewed game on the platform. As of now, there are over 101,826 negative reviews for Overwatch 2 on Steam, earning it an “Overwhelmingly Negative” tag. This critical reception is undoubtedly a significant blow to Blizzard, as they had hoped to expand their presence on Steam with the release of Overwatch 2.
Blizzard’s decision to bring Overwatch 2 to Steam was likely motivated by the desire to communicate with Chinese gamers and gauge their concerns regarding the game and the ongoing server issues. However, the overwhelmingly negative reception has cast doubt on the effectiveness of this approach. It remains to be seen whether Blizzard will address the criticisms and make necessary changes to salvage the reputation of Overwatch 2.
The release of Overwatch 2 on Steam has not gone as planned, as the game has become the worst-reviewed title on the platform. The introduction of a battle pass system and the cancellation of the PvE mode have disappointed long-time fans, while Chinese gamers have expressed their frustrations regarding the server issues. Blizzard now faces the daunting task of addressing these concerns and regaining the trust of its player base. Only time will tell if Overwatch 2 can overcome this rocky start and achieve the success that its predecessor enjoyed.
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