As exciting as the Overwatch 2 announcement was at BlizzCon this year, it's probably the last thing you wanted to hear if you recently picked up a copy of Overwatch: Legendary Edition on the Switch less than a month ago.
Thankfully, the original game will remain relevant – with Blizzard confirming it will be part of a shared multiplayer update, featuring the same heroes, maps and modes in PvP. Overwatch Director and Blizzard Vice President Jeff Kaplan has also mentioned how the first game is likely to stay in the spotlight for at least another year from now.
This was what he said during an interview with VG247:
I don’t have a date, It’s not this year, that’s a pretty safe answer...I have a feeling we’ll be talking about Overwatch 2 again next year at BlizzCon. If that helps.
During a BlizzCon panel, Kaplan explained how the team didn't really know when the sequel would be released:
I have no idea. Like, just let us make it great… We don’t have a date in mind.
Like I mentioned, Overwatch 2 is still in development, and we have a long ways to go before this game is fully ready.
Did you pick up Overwatch on the Switch last month? What are your thoughts about a sequel? Comment below.
[source vg247.com, via dexerto.com]
Comments 42
So.. Make Blizzard great again. Keheh!!!
Sorry, couldn't resist, don't hurt me.
Will it have a single player campaign?. I'd buy it if it does, I'm not into multi player Online Games.
I wonder if Overwatch 2 will be a launch title on PS5 and XBOX Scarlett. I can't imagine that a major title launch at around the same time as the next gen machines come out without a dedicated version for those machines.
...Yeah, seems like they just threw a trailer together in a hurry, just to calm people down after the whole Hong Kong debacle.
@Moviebuff1981 Yep! The single player will be the main part of this game
I hope that they plan for a release at the same time across all consoles. If they release for Sony and Microsoft first, that' gonna heavily slant who buys what.
Remember kids, a few people decided to make the hong kong decision. Dont hate on the ENTIRE company for others mistakes
The obvious plan Blizzard had that everyone already knows is to pile on the big announcements at Blizzcon to silence any complaints about their behavior in relation to pandering to China, which in large part worked for the people who were attending Blizzcon.
Overwatch "2" isn't ready to be shown, it probably has nothing to show, they just needed lots of announcements to drown out criticism.
@PBandSmelly
Remember kids, the higher-ups that directly work under the name of Blizzard made the Hong Kong decision. They represent the entire company.
"... it's probably the last thing you wanted to hear if you recently picked up a copy of Overwatch: Legendary Edition on the Switch less than a month ago."
Why is that? It's not like OW2 comes out tomorrow.
@Quarth in addition, aren't OW players on Switch getting it for free? I might be misremembering, but I thought I read that
They needed something to get the crowd back on their side. They prepared this, way away from being ready just to distract the crowd. Gotta say though, well played.
@RyanSilberman
Im saying this because I have (get this) 3 relatives who work at blizzard. I get tours there all the time. The staff and everyone doesnt like the decision, but its necessary to keep their jobs. When someone forces politics onto a gaming tournament stream that has nothing to do with politics, thats inconvenient to everyone, even the people who support hong kong. They just wanna do their jobs without hiccups in paychecks or harrassment from people online
@buckykatt323 according to your down votes three people support Chinese government.
None of the games at Blizzcon even had tentative release dates.
These announcements were basically Blizzard dangling keys in front of everyone's faces in the hopes that people would forget about the whole Hong Kong fiasco.
If the reactions I've seen online are any indicator it worked.
@Toy_Link
This wouldn’t be something to worry about if PS599USDollars and XboneTwo had no strings attached backwards compatibility but this won’t happen as it’s a threat to garbage launch title ports and endless remasters.
@Moviebuff1981 That's all it will have that the original won't from what they have said
110% Blizzard was announcing games waaaaay ahead of schedule to get over the two main controversies they were dealing with: Blizzcon 2018, and this HK debacle
Just take your time guys, dont rush it, but polish it to a gem.
Just cancel it, please. Or better yet, sell that God-awful IP and donate 100% of the funds to charity organizations assisting the citizens of HK.
Plz, leave China and Hong Kong out of this. This is a gaming site where ppl should discuss about games. There are other platforms and ways to make your political statements if you wish to do so.
Thank you and have a nice day
This is a non-story. Why are Blizzard getting so much press? Anything to do with a PR push to minimise their appalling action in attempting to silence speech about the HK atrocities? Streisand Effect in action...
I feel bad for these devs. They're getting a lot of the public hate when said hate really should go to the penny-pinching decision-makers who decided that some yuan in their pockets meant enough to them that the entire company had to bend over and lick the CCP's boots. The devs didn't put the company's image through the ringer and start the worst PR crisis in their company's history; they just wanna make games.
Do note that I'm not saying you should run out and buy Blizzard games to support these well-meaning developers. It's still not worth it when Blizzard execs are making bank off of their sellout to the Chinese mainland government.
Blizzard since WoW and the Activation merger has not been the Blizzard I thought could do no wrong back in the 90s.
The Hong Kong and China fiasco cements it further for me, along with a not so great port for the original Overwatch.
I really thought they were okay when Diablo 3 was on Switch but they took a half step forward with it and two steps back making Diablo mobile. Then with the Hong Kong issue, they basically decided to moonwalk.
@Severian You know that Overwatch was developed entirely under Activision / Blizzard. Same as Diablo 3.
Diablo mobile was a joke, but also comparable to (most) Nintendo mobile outings. Meaning (trying to) build up hype for the new game. This backfired and they didn't know what to do about it.
And I won't put my opinions about the Hong Kong stuff here, since I already have said that in the previous topic.
@YozenFroghurt Or one man made the choice to make a political statement on a sensitive gaming platform and opened the Pandora's box.
It was not Blizzard that made the first step.
Free speech come at a cost and people must remember that. There are places to make political statement against tyrannical/communist ruling and a gaming tournament is NOT one them.
@sanderev
Yes, I am aware it was A-B who developed both Overwatch and Diablo 3. By Diablo standards, I find Diablo 3 to be a step down. As a game itself without comparison, it's okay and enjoyable, but not engrossingly fun the way Diablo 2 consumed my high school life.
Haven't done Nintendo mobile outings--I don't see that as their "A game" honestly since it's mass market appeal rather than the Nintendo seal of quality I see in their console games.
Ya, it's hard to say if what they did was right or wrong in Blizzard's actions. I mean you don't wan't this to spill over and then lots of casters start doing what they want to say instead of sticking to game talk. I think Blizzard was way harsh in their decision to punish him. They should've gave the caster and everyone else a warning.
I do know that the caster is trying to bring awareness to HK and I support him for that but then again what about mainland china and the muslims and christians being targeted. Why is there no cry for the millions there too? The problem is the CCP is evil and wants to control everything. I mean how many times in the news do you hear about people getting charged by leaking classified information to the Chinese. They want to become THE super power of the world and they're on course to doing just that. The real question is, how long will it take for the world to stand up to them?
Sorry, I can't sleep and I probably am getting to deep into all of this. Heh
@YozenFroghurt No. The Hearthstone player introduced it by using one of their platforms. Blizzard responded. They didn't provoke anyone out of nowhere. And this is the final time i speak of this in this site. Let's focus on games.
Maybe they can use that time to make it more than Mann vs Machine mode, which TF2 got for free.
Will they take out the Chinese character for being anti China now?
They just got suprised by the negative backlash from the Overwatch 2 leaks and subsequent official announcement.
Since, all they have so far shown and told, makes Overwatch 2 look like a complete cash grab, where they try to sell a DLC as a full 60 bucks game!
Everyone only stopped caring ahout Hong Kong because “omg TRACER BE THICC BOIS”
Gamers never care after they get new stuff.
@YozenFroghurt Yeah just like every other damn company on this earth. They all support China by making their products there. If they valued human rights more than money they would've made their consoles, phones etc. someplace else.
Also don't act like that with "One man making a comment isn't the issue here. People do that all the time.", the same would've happened with Apple, Sony and even Nintendo.
If you bought even ONE product that has the "Made in China." text on it you support China as well.
Sorry for the reality check.
@YozenFroghurt All companies have a choice. Lower profit margins due to making their products in countries with normal labour not slavery or the cheap labour in China. They all choose China.
Lets not pretend this is not supporting
Also if you make statements against one of the biggest communist governments in the world you must've thought about the consequences. That guy not only lost his privilege to attend Hearthstone tournaments for 6 months but the casters lost that as well.
If he did that on other platform and NOT Hearthstone everything would've been ok.
EDIT: Just not to be confused. I detest communism and the Chinese practices and ruling. But making such statements on private platform will only make it harder for yourself and others. This guy just costed the casters their job just because he wanted to display his beliefs.
@YozenFroghurt China will never be out of our lives as long as companies support them. That gives China power not silencing individuals.
That little voice "Free HK" does nothing to China.
Did you heard the "apology" from Blizzard at Blizzcon?
Yeah it was nothing. Blizzard is just a drop in the Chinese sea.
Those protesters just yell and think they will make a difference but they will not. People say they will stop buying their games and yet Blizzcon is FULL, WoW is full of players and those streamers of HS are still PLAYING Blizzards game because they want money NOT human rights.
People can only yell and then … nothing.
@Moviebuff1981 How about Online single player games?
I'm really surprised that D4 wasn't announced for switch as well, based on it seemed like D3 did really well on switch. That game doens't look like it would have issues running on switch.
@Zuljaras Truth, actions are louder than words as Blizz said though they are not proving it much lol.
@ballistic90 Yes that would be cool.
@kenyowa Anyone hating on the devs themselves are idiots. It's the suits in charge of the company that people should be angry with, not the people making the actual games.
Unfortunately said suits are untouchable and don't care what we or their employees think as long as they still have more money than any one person on the planet would know what to do with.
Also diablo came out on switch and i'm hoping for diablo 4 on switch. Although nothing so far about the in game graphics on that if its similar to diablo 3 i don't see why not.
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