‘See you on the other side’
[Disclaimer: The following report is not only intended as a nostalgic love letter to a game I enjoyed — one that legitimately helped me through the darkest and most self-destructive of years — but, moreso, a shout-out to a devoted player community. However, my thoughts on the behavior of Activision Blizzard, including its vile workplace controversies have been well documented in multiple reports here on Destructoid. Overwatch 2 is not in any way ‘penance’ for said controversy.]
Early yesterday, October 3, 2022, Blizzard Entertainment’s juggernaut multiplayer shooter Overwatch finally hit the lights, bringing to an end six years of life, millions of exciting and intense battles, and only one payload ever actually pushed to its destination — This act, of course, was conducted in order to pave the way for successor Overwatch 2, which launches today on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Switch.
Around the world, the Overwatch community saw to it that their fave hero shooter went out with a bang, smashing through those final Arcade Mode boxes, jumping into ranked mode to push their final score to its current zenith brink, going on an unhealthy shopping spree for skins and emotes, (I finally bagged Red Riding Hood Ashe), and promising themselves that, when the new dawn comes, that they’re finally, finally going to learn how to play Moira.
This cute and bittersweet video, captured by player FroggerOW, shows the exact moment that Blizzard flicked the big switch, and sees a literal party of Overwatch characters hanging out on the final checkpoint of Hanamura. As Lucio spins the platters that matter for the audience, characters such as Symmetra, Ashe, Winston, Cassidy, and even nobody’s favorite, Wrecking Ball, dance away the final few seconds of a game that has brought hundreds of hours of joy to so many players.
And then, just like that… It was over. watch.
The end of Overwatch 1. pic.twitter.com/IhHjmVPZiW
— Frogger (@FroggerOW) October 3, 2022
If you’re looking for a trendily negative social media take on this affair, then you’ve come to the wrong place, Jack. Overwatch was my favorite game of the last decade, and holds a spot in my Top Five of All Time. I will be the first to admit that the final year or two were not quite as enjoyable as the peak period, mainly due to a sense of “half-ass” efforts among teammates — a definite moment where people seemingly decided to just abandon both synergy and teamwork. But, whenever the moon and stars aligned, there was still nothing like a good game of Overwatch, essentially a golden multiplayer experience.
If you had your headset switched off, obviously. But that goes for every team-based video game.
I’ve seen a ton of takes on social media that play along the lines of “Notice how people are mourning OW1 and not celebrating OW2?”. But… what do you expect from the player base? To just not care that their favorite video game is shutting down, to be replaced by what is, potentially, Malibu Stacy with a New Hat? No, of course, they’re going to mourn, of course, they’re going to reflect, and of course, they’re going to be concerned for the future of the franchise. And then, they will pick themselves up, head on into Overwatch 2, and do what they can to adapt to its new world, strategies, and gameplay changes.
If the video above demonstrates anything, then it is that Overwatch is only as strong as the devotion of its community, the passions of its players, and the fun they may find in its sharp action, colorful visuals, and dynamic roster of characters. The Game is The Thing. And if the players are there — and there is fun to be had — then the dedicated player base is going to welcome Overwatch 2 with open arms. They are right to mourn now, but this sad end can, just as easily, be a new dawn.
Any multiplayer title is more than its price, its battle passes, its DLC, or even its developer. The Overwatch community most certainly The Overwatch universe — its world and its characters — are given life and form through the gameplay and the community. And if these two elements are present, correct, and enjoying themselves, the actual impact of any divisive marketing is the most trifling of walls to surmount.
Overwatch 2 launches today as a free-to-play title on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. For official launch times, check out the world map on the official Overwatch Twitter.
