As whispers of transformation fill the air, the anticipation surrounding Overwatch 2 is palpable. Soon to reclaim its original title, the game gears up for a major update that promises to reshape how we experience its vibrant universe. Yet, even before this overhaul lands, a wave of players is rushing back, eager to reconnect with the action.
The prospect of Overwatch returning to its roots has drawn a multitude back into the fray, like moths to a flame. This surge of interest might just whip up a storm in the gaming community, as players prepare for the impending changes.
Since its release, Overwatch 2 peaked at around 75,000 concurrent players on Steam, but maintaining such numbers has proven challenging, often lingering around half that. As the new patch looms, players are rejoining en masse, pushing concurrent figures back to levels not seen since early 2023. Currently, the game reached a 24-hour peak of 64,000, its highest traffic since its initial launch explosion.
This trend marks a significant shift, especially as engagement had remained strong even before Blizzard hinted at these fresh developments.
Right now, Overwatch 2 almost finds itself in the top 30 most-played games, trailing behind Call of Duty but ahead of popular free-to-play titles like Delta Force. It stands poised to outpace Battlefield 6, which has faced steep player declines recently, a pattern likely to reverse with impending updates.
Overwatch 2 still battles with a 27 percent positive rating on Steam, a product of a fervent review-bombing campaign in 2023. Regaining a favorable standing will take time, but it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.
These figures only capture a slice of the action on Steam. The real narrative unfolds across Battle.net and consoles, where many Overwatch 2 players are likely returning with equal enthusiasm.
I, for one, welcome this new phase of Overwatch and am curious to see how Blizzard’s upcoming roadmap will revitalize an otherwise stagnant title. Is this the spark needed to reignite old flames, or are we merely witnessing a temporary surge?