OW2 devs tease return of “terrifying” metas in future Overwatch Classic events

As an ardent Overwatch fan since its inception, I find the announcement of Overwatch Classic to be nothing short of a nostalgic delight! Having witnessed the evolution of metas from the Ana and Genji ‘Nanoblade’ era to the double sniper combo of Widowmaker and Hanzo, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia at the prospect of revisiting these bygone eras.


After the debut of Overwatch Classic, an event within Overwatch 2 harkening back to the game’s initial release in 2016, Blizzard hinted at plans to re-examine and potentially reintroduce popular or even contentious gameplay styles from the past.

In the tradition of Fortnite Season OG, Overwatch Classic is a special mode offering players a chance to revisit the original game’s launch experience. This revival includes a shift back to the 6v6 team format, eliminating role and hero restrictions, and showcasing abilities that are less balanced compared to their current versions after eight years of updates.

The classic version of Overwatch is intended to offer both long-time gamers and newcomers a peek into the game’s initial release state. However, many fans may wonder if this is just a one-time event. Fortunately, during a group interview with TopMob, Lead Gameplay Designer Alec Dawson suggests there could be more to look forward to, provided players are interested in this mode.

He mentioned that we’ve previously discussed the possibility of it happening regularly, “Could we instead explore various moments in the timeline of the game?” he suggested. “Overwatch boasts an extensive history and numerous meta-strategies that fans may wish to revisit.

He went on to explain, ‘This image shows the game’s debut moment.’ We’re curious about how players connect with that initial release. Is it a game they continue to play enthusiastically? Or is it more of a nostalgic reminder for them? We’ll be observing closely to understand its long-term implications and plan accordingly.

OW2 devs tease return of “terrifying” metas in future Overwatch Classic events

Over the course of time, various dominant strategies, or metas, in Overwatch have emerged. For instance, there was a period when Ana and Genji were a powerful duo with the ‘Nanoblade’ technique, followed by a season where the double sniper combination of Widowmaker and Hanzo reigned supreme. It has been disclosed that the team is considering which of these metas might make a return in an upcoming iteration of Classic mode.

He clarified that certain ideas have been thought up and there are a few of them which could be thrilling or nerve-wracking for the players, as they plan to move forward significantly with each update, according to Game Director Aaron Keller.

It’s still unclear which period of Overwatch history will be visited again next, but Keller hinted at the potential comeback of the ‘Moth’ strategy from 2017, a time when Mercy could resurrect all her downed teammates with her ultimate ability.

He mentioned: “Perhaps if we had another one following this, Mercy might have been exceptionally powerful. This situation occurred approximately a year post-launch. While I’m not ready to discuss specifics just yet, it could be seen as a significant hint.

As a dedicated Overwatch player, I’m excited that the classic run is ongoing until December 2. However, it remains to be seen whether Blizzard will decide to resurrect this event during Season 14 or beyond. Only time will tell!

Read More

2024-11-11 20:18