Overwatch: Classic Is Bringing Back 6v6 In Overwatch 2 For A Limited-Time

As a long-time Overwatch fanatic who’s seen it all, from its glorious launch to the current iteration, I must say that Blizzard’s announcement of Overwatch: Classic has me buzzing with nostalgia. It’s like a time machine back to the chaotic, friendly-fire days of yore, complete with Mercy’s game-changing Resurrect and Symmetra’s teleporting mayhem.


In an upcoming special event mode, titled “Overwatch: Classic,” Blizzard will bring back Overwatch 2 to the classic 6 versus 6 format from the original Overwatch, including all of its original character abilities and maps.

During the period from November 12th to December 2nd, you’ll be able to play Overwatch 1 within Overwatch 2. This means that during this event, the game will only offer the original roster of 21 heroes and their original abilities. These heroes can be used on modes, maps, and settings derived from Overwatch 1. For the initial days of the event, there won’t be any restrictions on the number of heroes or roles you can pick, similar to when Overwatch was initially released. However, after those initial days, a single hero per team will be mandated for the rest of the Overwatch: Classic play. This information is based on Blizzard’s announcement blog.

According to Blizzard, this event recreates the unpredictable gameplay found in Overwatch 1, featuring some of the roster’s extraordinary talents that can significantly impact a match. These include Mercy’s team-resurrecting ultimate and Symmetra’s long-range teleporters that traverse the map. Additionally, it reintroduces friendly fire, enabling characters like D.VA and Junkrat to inflict damage upon themselves with their abilities.

In contrast to Overwatch 1, Overwatch: Classic will have some notable distinctions. For instance, the loot boxes and the user interface of the original Overwatch won’t return, nor will the original, untouched versions of Overwatch’s maps. Instead, it will employ the revamped Overwatch 2 versions of the original Overwatch’s 12 launch maps. Moreover, players can’t use skins or cosmetics from the original game while playing Overwatch: Classic. In Overwatch 1 for this event, heroes will be confined to their default appearances.

Previously, Blizzard announced they would trial a 6v6 format for Overwatch 2, but they clarify that Overwatch: Classic is not the same thing. Furthermore, Blizzard has stated that Overwatch: Classic isn’t intended as a one-time event and could potentially reappear in the future, although they currently have limited information to share on the topic.

Blizzard explains that they don’t intend for this to be a one-time occurrence. Instead, they’ll monitor the players’ reactions to help guide their decisions moving forward.

The announcement by Blizzard of Overwatch: Classic continues a pattern observed in successful shooter games, such as Fortnite and Apex Legends, capitalizing on players’ nostalgia for the initial editions of their beloved titles. Notably, it has been reported that Fortnite will be reintroducing its original game mode (featuring the classic map and weapons) permanently starting from December. On the other hand, Apex: Legends’ Season 23 introduced a limited-time mode named Launch Royale, which recreates the original game environment, characters, weaponry, and abilities similar to Overwatch: Classic.

In the latest update, Overwatch 2 debuted Season 13, introducing a fresh PvP Halloween event and significant modifications to characters like Sombra and several popular tanks. Blizzard has announced that they will be experimenting with 6v6 gameplay during Season 14, commencing on December 10. The initial test will demand one hero for each role, while a subsequent test scheduled for later in the season will explore the “traditional 2-2-2” role configuration, with minor adjustments.

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2024-11-11 22:09