Is Overwatch Another Victim Of The Mysterious Persona 5 Curse?

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Following a turbulent three years, Overwatch 2 will be rebranded as just “Overwatch” in February 2026.

So, everyone’s hyped about the big changes coming to one of the most legendary hero shooters, but I’ve noticed a lot of people are saying it’s running into the same problem as a bunch of other games – the “Persona 5 curse.” It seems like after that awesome crossover event, things just haven’t been the same, and it’s kinda bumming me out.

If you didn’t hear, Blizzard teamed up with Persona 5 last September, releasing skins based on the game’s characters, the Phantom Thieves. Now, just half a year later, Overwatch is getting a big overhaul. The new season, called “Reign of Talon,” started with a cinematic trailer showing the new hero Vendetta battling the villain Doomfist. Game Director Aaron Keller also revealed plans for 2026, promising lots of new heroes and features.

The recent update has renewed excitement for the game, attracting both returning and new players to compete for control of areas in Lijian Tower. Back in February 2026, GameRant noted that Overwatch hit its highest-ever player numbers, surpassing Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty on Steam. However, because the update essentially replaced Overwatch 2—a game with a competitive esports scene—some fans jokingly say the game has fallen victim to a trend similar to the ‘Persona 5 curse,’ adding it to the list of live-service games that haven’t lasted.

What is the Persona 5 Curse?

Gaming superstitions are rare, but the “Persona 5 curse” has affected so many players that it’s become hard to dismiss as just a coincidence.

Fans have noticed a worrying pattern: mobile games that collaborate with the Persona 5 franchise tend to stop being updated or completely shut down within a few years of the partnership.

It seems that mobile games featuring collaborations with Persona 5 have had a difficult time staying online. Star Ocean Amamnesis was the first to fall victim to this trend, launching a collaboration in October 2019 but closing down in June 2021. Sword Art Online: Memory Defrag followed, partnering with Persona 5 in February 2020 before its servers were shut down in August 2021. Dragalia Lost experienced a similar fate, collaborating with Persona 5 in January 2021 and ultimately closing in November 2022. Most recently, Nier Reincarnation collaborated with Persona 5 in September 2022, but would later shut down on April 30, 2024.

After several live-service games were unexpectedly shut down so soon after their in-game events concluded, Persona 5 fans jokingly began to say the franchise was cursed.

It’s not true that every live-service game with a Persona 5 collaboration has failed. Granblue Fantasy, for example, is still popular eight years after its Persona 5 event, proving these collaborations don’t always lead to a game’s downfall. Plus, Atlus’ own game, Persona 5: The Phantom X, launched last year and is currently doing well.

Despite a lot of evidence suggesting it’s just a myth, gamers have embraced this belief as a superstition.

Why are People Saying Overwatch 2 Got Hit by the Persona 5 Curse?

Although Overwatch isn’t going anywhere, removing the “2” from the title has caused many on social media to jokingly suggest it’s been cancelled or is ending.

In September 2025, Overwatch celebrated its seventh collaboration with another brand. The update featured new skins for the heroes Mercy, D.Va, Lifeweaver, Genji, and Wuyang, all inspired by the popular Phantom Thieves. Players also unlocked special animations and emotes for these heroes, mirroring the Phantom Thieves’ signature finishing moves, which were a delightful surprise for fans of both Overwatch and the Phantom Thieves franchise.

This is mainly a sign of the challenges live-service games face in consistently earning enough money to stay viable.

The collaboration was definitely impressive, and the Overwatch team once again proved their skill with amazing skin designs. This made many players consider buying the complete bundle, which costs $69.

The issue isn’t about how good the event or game is. Instead, it highlights the challenges live-service games face in consistently earning enough money to stay viable.

This meme also plays on a bit of enjoyment at others’ misfortune. After the disappointing launch of “Overwatch 2” in 2022, many gamers haven’t been happy with the way Blizzard has been developing the game.

Overwatch 2 introduced new maps and character skins, but also some significant and often debated changes to the game’s interface and how certain heroes play. The biggest shift was a new way to unlock items, replacing the old loot box system with a battle pass. The game also moved to a 5-player team format, aiming to refresh gameplay and move away from the previously dominant ‘GOATS’ strategy.

Developers also gave fans a glimpse of the upcoming story mode for PvE, promising a deeper dive into the Overwatch universe beyond just the cinematic shorts and new hero introductions.

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Two years after Overwatch 2 launched, the game mode was cancelled just before Microsoft completed its purchase of Blizzard.

Overwatch 2 fans are celebrating recent improvements, and it seems Blizzard is finally responding to player feedback. They’re actively changing some of the game’s less popular features to create a better experience for everyone.

What Does the Persona 5 Curse Mean for Overwatch?

In truth, this is all very deeply unserious.

The recent surge in players after the game’s updates proves the franchise still has a dedicated fanbase and a future. However, the issues surrounding Persona 5 and the overall troubled history of Overwatch 2 – marked by ongoing controversy and negative feedback – create a somewhat ironic ending to the game’s story.

Let’s hope this update improves the game, and if Blizzard decides to add the rest of the Phantom Thieves through another Persona collaboration, it avoids the same issues it faced a year ago. It’s important for the game to stay competitive with titles like Marvel Rivals.

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2026-02-13 19:44