Blizzard's groundbreaking move of releasing Overwatch 2 on Steam, marking a significant departure from the Battle.net platform, has encountered a less than favorable reception. The Steam store listing for the game has been inundated with a barrage of negative user reviews since its debut, marking an unprecedented situation for Blizzard.
As Blizzard introduced Season 6: Invasion, they aimed to make history with their beloved hero shooter. By breaking the tradition of exclusivity to Battle.net on PC, Overwatch 2 paved the way for potential future releases of other franchises on Steam, giving players more choice in their preferred gaming platform.
However, this pivotal move has been marred by controversy.
In just a few hours following its release on August 10, Overwatch 2 has been saddled with a "Mostly Negative" rating due to the deluge of strongly critical user reviews.
"Mostly Negative" Reception on Overwatch 2's Steam Launch
As of the time of this writing, Overwatch 2 bears a "Mostly Negative" label, with 90% of user reviews expressing disapproval.
It's essential to approach these early user reviews with caution, given the trend of review-bombing seen in recent months. Games such as Final Fantasy XVI and Diablo 4 have faced similar backlash in the public eye this year, often with reviews that lack substantive criticism.
Many of the negative reviews for Overwatch 2 contribute little constructive feedback. Comments like "Overwatch 1 > Overwatch 2" and "Terrible" are prevalent, with even links to Team Fortress 2's Steam store page cluttering the review section on launch day.
Others have focused their critiques on the shift towards PvE (Player vs. Environment) content, highlighting concerns about the absence of hero progression and the pricing of the initial batch of Story Missions, which is perceived as a "predatory behavior" by one user.
The Future of Overwatch 2's Reputation on Steam
As is often the case with review bombings, the situation may potentially stabilize in the days ahead as more players engage with Overwatch 2 on Steam. Nevertheless, there remains a chance that the onslaught of negative user reviews might persist, resulting in the "Mostly Negative" label enduring for an extended period.
We will continue to closely monitor the situation, providing updates as Blizzard navigates its debut on Valve's storefront for the very first time.
