After Becoming the Worst User-Reviewed Game Ever on Steam, Overwatch 2’s Recent Reviews Jump to ‘Mixed’

Overwatch 2 Season 15: A Resurgence?

Overwatch 2, once holding the dubious title of Steam's worst-reviewed game, is showing signs of a remarkable turnaround thanks to Season 15. Nine years after the original Overwatch's debut and two and a half years after Overwatch 2's launch, the game's reception has shifted from overwhelmingly negative to a more "mixed" rating on Steam. This improvement follows a period of intense criticism, fueled by monetization controversies and the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode.

The recent surge in positive sentiment is directly linked to Season 15's significant changes. While future updates promise new content, the core gameplay has undergone a substantial overhaul, including the introduction of hero perks and the return of loot boxes. This has resonated with players, as evidenced by recent Steam reviews.

Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots

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Positive reviews highlight the update as a return to the formula that worked in the original Overwatch, while incorporating enjoyable new mechanics. The contrast is stark against the game's previous struggles. One reviewer stated, "They just released Overwatch 2," referring to the transformative nature of the update. Another added, "Going back to what worked in Overwatch 1 while introducing new and fun mechanics... Now we just gotta wait for next season with an actual cooler battlepass."

This renewed positivity coincides with the rise of Marvel Rivals, a competing hero shooter from NetEase boasting 40 million downloads. In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller acknowledged the intensified competition, stating that the success of Marvel Rivals has spurred a shift in Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2, moving away from a "playing it safe" strategy.

While the game's future remains uncertain, and its Steam rating still hovers around "mixed," Season 15 has undeniably boosted player numbers on the platform, nearly doubling peak concurrent players to 60,000. It's important to note that these figures only represent Steam data; total player counts across all platforms (Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox) are unavailable. For comparison, Marvel Rivals recently peaked at 305,816 concurrent players on Steam. Whether this resurgence is sustainable remains to be seen, but Season 15 has undeniably given Overwatch 2 a renewed lease on life.