Overwatch 2 PvE Hasn’t Been Cancelled

Image Source: Instagram The Overwatch 2 community was disappointed this week as Blizzard scaled back its original plans for the game's PvE side.

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[{"selector":"#anim-02ab7561-6e23-4585-81f8-da66777fef9c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e6ce103-68eb-4b54-9236-bfea9217524f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a84dec7-332c-4d1b-af52-95a13a6bea3b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 221.74939%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Blizzard's decision was disheartening for both the community and the developers on Team 4.

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[{"selector":"#anim-75118deb-f030-40e0-a183-0c02eb240369 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a35df1dd-b544-4a6e-b2ae-8f1d3c2255d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d34259d9-19cd-419e-b756-60b3b78d79eb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Despite the changes, there are still exciting PvE experiences to look forward to, albeit in a different flavor than expected.

[{"selector":"#anim-2890c3b1-946f-4fa8-9bb1-26bea1aab687 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4cfa89c1-70d8-4b68-8865-c4df13c03f13","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a020e5eb-bac3-4a00-b905-e3aeba4bdc17","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 166.53746%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram In a dev chat, Overwatch 2's director and executive producer acknowledged that the ambitious hero mode wasn't coming together as planned.

[{"selector":"#anim-4081de2a-51e3-4a22-99ee-0b6929883ebf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a0a595a1-a628-4b2f-821e-7634c18fafe1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-738b4446-e3f4-4be4-803c-f32e065259a5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Focusing on hero missions was diverting resources from the live game, and it was unclear when the feature would be completed.

[{"selector":"#anim-cb358d04-db6f-44fd-a2bd-80444cea2223 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7cd4041c-4365-43a3-a8b1-39374eaf56dc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c6aa04d-e8ad-48f5-a8e6-dffafec22842","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Shifting the strategy to prioritize the live game's development made sense to avoid content droughts.

[{"selector":"#anim-d4014b26-033c-4131-a1df-6976d18f048e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-592f4c91-45b9-4312-a9c8-c36e44081aea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d10366aa-6a71-44a2-84fe-0301620b93a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Building skill trees and talents for numerous characters while maintaining Blizzard's expected level of polish was an immense task.

[{"selector":"#anim-271e6f51-d60d-4006-80b9-ef65aee9735a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da67f775-df5b-4828-9542-75684a19aa08","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-80dd0f53-e091-4718-bcf1-c6803240a450","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram External pressures, such as Blizzard's return to office policy, may have contributed to developer attrition and affected game development.

[{"selector":"#anim-7cdd996e-2ab0-41bc-ae4c-7bbb369fdb85 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd2ad7d6-8af5-4034-a8aa-6c1e078846e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f382fc7f-9cb6-4cfb-baf6-060a693e5d34","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The WoW team experienced challenges due to departures, potentially impacting the Overwatch team as well.

[{"selector":"#anim-a539c701-ceed-4d64-a8be-edfcd639d005 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4fbda242-df3e-4132-90b3-3e4e5cd53df7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c378e304-989c-4881-b020-b82278f21d85","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Despite the setbacks, Blizzard is placing a bigger emphasis on story and lore, which will be showcased in cinematics and story missions.

[{"selector":"#anim-aa17f24f-2cb9-43d6-b21d-18e912c7631c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66ac9571-61aa-473e-be92-9e9d05f901c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c742ed0-a08a-440b-9e92-db9537c7ff17","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The cancellation of hero mode isn't a significant loss as there are already plenty of games with RPG-style progression.

[{"selector":"#anim-6cb34f50-1f39-4384-b3c5-bf07917d6c83 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4514c141-6379-4b55-9666-36d2e2ffd6fa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a56b082c-9a09-4fcc-815a-a90816c9b3b9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The focus can now shift to fun and creative hero loadouts in modes like Battle for Olympus and the Workshop.

[{"selector":"#anim-f6078453-077a-4469-b549-1b37472a6464 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10b34c87-5a97-47dd-a2f2-9dd075b64b87","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-efe84a40-2524-445e-87fe-42cbb1bffe89","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The transition to Overwatch 2 has had its difficulties, including unclear messaging and a rocky launch.

[{"selector":"#anim-c284289e-3337-46fb-8b09-308be31846b0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fbbb036f-cd60-4be3-92de-7fa829a7defd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8cdc7a1c-e73c-4ded-b2da-b86f04ebc052","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 186.70036%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The decision to cancel hero mode was made under different leadership, and the current team is making positive strides in communication.

[{"selector":"#anim-62c12915-7270-4ad9-bbce-786d0b57f515 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50824227-7700-43a8-96bb-65fd6387d3a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d4068bd-af8e-4358-a7d7-57295912e558","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 221.74939%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Overwatch 2 fans get regular updates and transparent communication from the developers.

[{"selector":"#anim-5936825b-d58a-4a30-a43d-4b58fc1aee17 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf1538d9-ea66-4342-8bc0-f49a9bc3f206","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f60d03e-6eef-4ea2-8c1e-ed637810a8c8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The roadmap for Overwatch 2 looks promising, with story missions and single-player hero mastery missions on the horizon.

[{"selector":"#anim-72ec6b78-a56f-48b1-a499-2df97350ff1f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5b4a97d-abe9-4dfb-acbd-e2a1a1ed9a25","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-531047ed-e6b2-4188-b8f1-b057217753df","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 166.53746%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Despite the disappointments, it's important for Team 4 to prioritize the well-being of its developers and the long-term future of the game.

[{"selector":"#anim-6fac99de-51b3-4f9e-a47f-e6e5ecefe54c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24624c4c-db4c-422b-9f19-4336186636b5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6c9aa31-cb37-4f63-a1bb-303d7c0a52a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 221.74939%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Overall, there is still much to anticipate and hope for in the ongoing development of Overwatch 2.