What Happened to Overwatch 2 PvE? Is Overwatch 2 PvE Cancelled?
by Mathelene
Updated May 19, 2023
What Happened to Overwatch 2 PvE?
Overwatch emerged as a game that arose from the remnants of Blizzard's abandoned project, Titan, an ambitious MMO that was ultimately canceled. Following the decision to scrap Titan, developers at Blizzard reworked some of the concepts into what eventually became Overwatch—an acclaimed hero-based multiplayer shooter that enjoyed immense success.
The development process for Overwatch 2, helmed by Blizzard's Team 4, however, deviated from Blizzard's traditional approach of keeping games hidden from the public until they were near completion and aligned with the ideal vision. This departure was particularly noticeable for Overwatch 2. At BlizzCon 2019, where Overwatch 2 was unveiled, players were promised a new PvE Hero component. This feature would enable players to form squads and partake in a narrative-driven multiplayer experience.
Additionally, each of the beloved heroes would receive PvE-specific adjustments and progression systems that would unlock new talents. This ambitious PvE mode played a significant role in justifying the "2" in the game's title. However, Blizzard has now confirmed that the promised PvE Hero component will no longer be included in Overwatch 2.
In a video statement, game director Aaron Keller and executive producer Jared Neuss explained that the development team decided to take the PvE elements of Overwatch 2 in a different direction. Instead, they outlined a roadmap for upcoming seasons, which will introduce new heroes, maps, rebalances, and story-focused additions. Keller and Neuss asserted that this decision was made to benefit the game's live multiplayer component.
The success of this new direction will ultimately be judged based on the execution of the forthcoming seasons outlined in the roadmap. Nevertheless, this change in plans is likely to confuse and frustrate players who were eagerly anticipating the promised PvE experience. GameSpot interviewed Keller and Neuss to delve into the reasons behind this decision and understand how Team 4 intends to salvage a positive outcome from what might be perceived as the remnants of an abandoned idea.
Is Overwatch 2 PvE cancelled?
Blizzard has made the official announcement that the original PvE Hero mode for Overwatch 2 has been canceled. The decision to scrap the mode was explained by executive producer Jared Neuss during a Twitch stream where he detailed the game's content roadmap. Neuss revealed that the development of the PvE experience did not progress as hoped, despite the team creating exciting missions, new enemies, and engaging hero talents.
Due to the immense effort required to deliver a high-quality PvE experience that aligns with Blizzard's standards, with no definite end in sight, Blizzard faced a difficult choice. They had to decide whether to continue investing efforts into the uncertain PvE mode or focus on their values of serving the players and the live game experience.
After considering the lessons learned from operating the game and the level of service players deserve, Blizzard concluded that they couldn't deliver on the original vision for PvE that was showcased in 2019. Consequently, the dedicated hero mode with talent trees and long-term talent power progression will not be part of Overwatch 2's plans anymore.
Blizzard acknowledges that this news will be disappointing to many fans and emphasized the difficulty the decision posed to the team members who invested their passion into the project. However, Blizzard remains committed to delivering a compelling experience for players and is shifting its focus to the live game.
What is PvE in Overwatch 2?
When Overwatch 2 was initially announced in 2019, PvE (Player versus Environment) was showcased as a significant and flagship feature of the sequel. It was intended to provide players with a new narrative-driven multiplayer experience, allowing them to engage in cooperative missions against computer-controlled enemies.
However, as development progressed and the anticipated release window of 2022 approached, Blizzard Entertainment made the decision to "decouple" the PvE aspect from the PvP (Player versus Player) component. This meant that the PvE mode would be separated from the PvP mode and released separately, allowing the team to deliver the game to players sooner.
By decoupling PvE from PvP, Blizzard aimed to expedite the release of Overwatch 2 and ensure that players could experience the game without further delays. This decision was likely influenced by the challenges and complexities encountered during the development process, which led to a longer timeframe than initially anticipated.
Overwatch 2 PvE Release Date
Executive producer Jared Neuss acknowledged that the development progress for the PvE experience did not meet their expectations. While the team has been working on crafting unique missions, enemies, and Overwatch 2 talents for progression, the effort required to deliver a Blizzard-quality experience proved to be significant, with no clear end in sight.
Although some fans speculated that the PvE content had been canceled entirely, Neuss clarified on Twitter that cooperative story missions and single-player Hero Mastery missions are still part of the plan. However, talents and hero progression will not be featured in these missions. The Overwatch leadership team made the decision to pivot in order to ensure that they can tell new stories within the Overwatch universe, albeit in a different manner than originally communicated.
While this may deviate from the initial promises, limited-time events have historically provided enjoyable breaks from competitive play in Overwatch. The game's extensive external media, such as comic books and cinematics, has often served as a platform for exploring the lore and introducing new characters. It is expected that the upcoming story-driven content will continue to breathe life into the game's heroes.
As players eagerly anticipate the PvE events, resources such as Overwatch 2 crossplay guides and breakdowns of the changes since the game's first iteration can help them prepare. Additionally, tier lists and guides detailing the best heroes per role can provide insight into the current meta.
What Happened to Overwatch 2 PvE - FAQs
Yes, Blizzard has officially announced the cancellation of the original PvE Hero mode for Overwatch 2.
PvE (Player versus Environment) in Overwatch 2 refers to a cooperative game mode.
The release date for Overwatch 2's PvE content is still planned for 2023.