Summary
Overwatch 2has been a mixed bag since launching in October 2022. Despite attracting millions of players, and garnering a steady community on Steam, the game’s battle pass system and missing PvE features have disappointed some. Regardless,Overwatch 2stands out from other hero shooters due to its vibrant characters and compelling lore.
Overwatch 2’s setting of a near-future Earth is undeniably intriguing, but Blizzard has yet to fully capitalize on the game’s narrative potential. While the franchise was a breath of fresh air for hero shooters in 2016, it could learn from some of the more recent titles. For instance,games likeConcordare primed to offer features that could enhanceOverwatch 2’s storytelling.
Overwatch 2 Shouldn’t Be Afraid To Borrow Features From Games Of The Same Genre
Overwatch 2 May Not Be Reaching Its Full Narrative Potential
Overwatch’s initial launch success stemmed in part from its thrilling gameplay and immersive maps, but Blizzard’s cinematics truly ignited player passion. Initially intended as promotional pieces, these cinematics blossomed into something more.Animated shorts like Dragonsfeaturing Hanzo and Genji became series staples, alongside tragic origin stories like Sigma and Illari.
Over time, some fans have expressed concern that Blizzard isn’t doing enough to nurtureOverwatch’s lore. This is especially evident when compared to other titles likeFallout,The Last of Us, andLeague of Legends, which have received dedicated TV shows. WhileOverwatch 2launched the animated mini-series GENESISto promote the Invasion missions in Season 6, it didn’t offer the same level of in-depth storytelling.
Blizzard is still releasing content such as “Overwatch 2: Heroes Ascendant: An Overwatch Story Collection” and various comics. However, these forms of media aren’t widely accessible to their player base. Consequently, it seems the developers might be grappling with a problem thatConcord, an upcoming hero shooter from Firewalk Studios, is already addressing.
Concord Has The Perfect Solution For Overwatch’s Lore Enthusiasts
While still awaiting its official launch,Concordgarnered significant attention from the gaming community following its reveal duringMay’s PlayStation State of Play. With many calling it a fusion ofOverwatchandGuardians of the Galaxy, it’s easy to see why the sci-fi shooter is making headlines. One particularly intriguing feature, especially forOverwatch 2fans concerned about lore development, isConcord’s promise of in-game lore drops.
Not only isConcordtaking a bold approach to its lore with narrative updates that progress individual character arcs, but it’s claiming that this will be a weekly occurrence. According to Firewalk Studios, the idea is to have short cinematic vignettesthat depictConcord’s characters’motives and lives outside of gameplay scenarios. For players who like to understand their characters on a deeper level, this is certainly a cause for celebration.
Drawing inspiration fromConcord’s approach, Blizzard could implement a similar system of weekly in-game lore drops. The positive reception for plot-related entries found in theOverwatch 2Missions tab and Intel Databasesuggests that the community would be receptive to more frequent narrative updates. Given the existing popularity ofOverwatch’s characters, Blizzard could introduce a range of weekly, in-game lore drops without a significant investment. This could include bite-sized content like comics, images, text logs, or the occasional animated vignette. Such diverse formats would likely resonate well with the community and deepen their connection to the game’s universe.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
