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Overwatch Classic Announced

Draugoth

Gold Member


We’re turning back the clock for some classic Overwatch fun!Return to the thrilling gameplay experience that started it all in Overwatch: Classic.Play with the original hero roster, their classic abilities, and enjoy the chaotic fun of 6v6.Journey back to iconic maps like Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, Volskaya Industries, and more.Group up with friends, old and new, as you experience the fun and camaraderie of early Overwatch.Join the action when Overwatch: Classic arrives for a limited-time on Nov 12.Overwatch 2 is free to play for everyone on console & PC!​
 
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"Did you bring back the lootboxes too?"
Blizzard:
dave chappelle GIF
 

Holammer

Member
I can't lie, that's pretty fucking amazing tbh.
No role selection and associated queuing, 6v6, unrestricted class stacking.

If nothing else I'm going to enjoy watching Muselk play it for a bit.
 

BlackTron

Gold Member
The game you purchased has been patched back in! For two weeks! Aren't you excited?

Edit: I'm actually, actively offended by this. Imagine trying to bait me back to your game by patching back in the one I was already pissed you took away...but only for two weeks, dangling like some carrot, waiting for you to take it away again.

Seriously, they went through all the trouble to make this Classic mode, just for that stunt? Better off not even doing it, insulting.
 
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Kagoshima_Luke

Gold Member
Why is it that Blizzard always keeps chopping and changing legitimately brilliant games so much that they need to launch a "classic" version to meet the massive demand from players for how things used to be? Do they not see this as, hmmmm, maybe don't butcher excellent games and systems? Or maybe this is some kind of 4D chess they are playing to bring back in players later for an engagement surge?
 

gothmog

Gold Member
Blizzard can't just own any failure. They basically have to save face and incrementally walk back their poorly received design choices. D4 went through a similar walk back, but it was on a shorter timeframe because they were panicking.
 

Interfectum

Member
So is this just Blzizard throwing in the towel and admitting Overwatch 2 was a horrible mistake?
Probably. As with Diablo 4 these games were created while Activision was actively invading the development teams. Pushing for more games, more content as WoW started falling off. Notice both Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 are reverting in some ways to how Blizzard use to be. Could be a sign of failure, could also be a sign of hope of things to come.
 

BlackTron

Gold Member
Most people in this thread think Blizzard has reached rock bottom, and is coping by giving us back Overwatch 1.

You are wrong. They are giving us OW Classic for two weeks as a live game marketing stunt. Then the "event" will be over. Back to the Disney vault, they can dangle the amazingly cool retro mode again next year, or whatever.

This is the real real rock bottom. It was dead to me before, now Overwatch is like a zombie who refuses to die and needs putting back in the ground over and over. Burn it once and for all RE style.
 

Interfectum

Member
Most people in this thread think Blizzard has reached rock bottom, and is coping by giving us back Overwatch 1.

You are wrong. They are giving us OW Classic for two weeks as a live game marketing stunt. Then the "event" will be over. Back to the Disney vault, they can dangle the amazingly cool retro mode again next year, or whatever.

This is the real real rock bottom. It was dead to me before, now Overwatch is like a zombie who refuses to die and needs putting back in the ground over and over. Burn it once and for all RE style.
Like I said earlier, this is a test to fully integrate 6v6 into the real game. The marketing stunt aspect is to get as many players as possible to gauge if there is any real interest or not. Probably an internal debate within the dev team that is going to hash out in public.
 
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Mitsurux

Member
Looks like the characters have also been reverted to some version of Overwatch 1, as they showed Baston self healing... might pop on to check it out, but I don't see myself playing regularly again.
 

nikos

Member
I play OW2 pretty regularly.

I'll definitely try this but I think people will quickly realize that 5v5 is way better than 6v6. Giving characters classic abilities should further prove that the changes made over the years have been good.
 

Interfectum

Member
I play OW2 pretty regularly.

I'll definitely try this but I think people will quickly realize that 5v5 is way better than 6v6. Giving characters classic abilities should further prove that the changes made over the years have been good.
Yeah, OW2 gets a lot of shit and probably shouldn't exist in it's current form (should just be OW still) but the game is still legit good.
 

BlackTron

Gold Member
Like I said earlier, this is a test to fully integrate 6v6 into the real game. The marketing stunt aspect is to get as many players as possible to gauge if there is any real interest or not. Probably an internal debate within the dev team that is going to hash out in public.

I don't understand how the 6v6 info will be valuable because the characters and balance are all changed in Classic mode. So observations will not apply to the current Overwatch 2. With that reality, they may as well just observe the many years of 6 group Overwatch. Unless they are doing it just for technical/server reasons...but really??
 

808mate

Neo Member
It's so sad to see watch Blizzard has become.

They're now simply another major company rather than the legendary game developer that made some of our favourite games.
 

Interfectum

Member
I don't understand how the 6v6 info will be valuable because the characters and balance are all changed in Classic mode. So observations will not apply to the current Overwatch 2. With that reality, they may as well just observe the many years of 6 group Overwatch. Unless they are doing it just for technical/server reasons...but really??
I probably spoke too soon, I still think it's a greater part of them bringing back hype for 6v6 but here is what they said:

Q. When can I play Overwatch: Classic?

Overwatch: Classic is a limited-time event from November 12 to December 2.

Q: Is Overwatch Classic the team’s answer to bringing back 6v6?

A: Overwatch Classic is separate from our broader 6v6 plans. Overwatch Classic is meant to be a nostalgic experience, taking heroes, players, and the game back to moments in the game’s history for limited time events

Q: Is it a way to test bringing back 6v6 permanently in Overwatch 2?

A: Nope! We are running separate 6v6 test modes in future seasons to gather feedback and gauge player interest on that format. See our recent Director’s Take for more information on those tests

Q. Is this a separate game from Overwatch 2 that I have to install?

A. This is not a separate game. This is a mode that will be playable in Overwatch 2, which you’ll find in the Events Hub and in the Arcade in the Main Menu.

Q. What is the game mode for Overwatch: Classic Patch 1.0?

You’ll play the Quick Play ruleset using the original 21 heroes and the twelve original launch maps. In spirit of the patch 1.0 balance, there will be no hero limits and no role limits as you play for the first few days of the event. After that we will enable the single hero limit rule for the remainder of the event. Heroes will be organized in their four original classes, Offense, Defense, Tanks, and Supports.

Q. Will maps be restored to their original design when Overwatch Patch 1.0 was released?

A. Overwatch: Classic will use the 12 original maps that first launched, however, maps will appear the same as they do in other Overwatch 2 game modes. This includes major reworks for Dorado, Numbani, Route 66, and Watchpoint: Gibraltar. Things like match timing and how elevator platforms work will still be the same as they appear in Overwatch 2 game modes.

Q. Can I equip my favorite skins including Overwatch 2 skins when playing?

A. As part of the nostalgia of playing Overwatch: Classic, players will be using only the original Overwatch default skins for this event.

Q: Why weren’t legacy features like loot boxes, the original UI, or Competitive mode included in Overwatch: Classic?

A: We focused on our heroes, maps, and overall gameplay with Overwatch: Classic, and the scope allows us the flexibility to balance these events with other exciting new gameplay.

Q: Will Overwatch: Classic ever return? Is this just a one-time thing?

A: While we’re not planning for this to be a single event, we will be measuring player response to inform our future plans.
 

BlackTron

Gold Member
Q: Is Overwatch Classic the team’s answer to bringing back 6v6?

A: Overwatch Classic is separate from our broader 6v6 plans. Overwatch Classic is meant to be a nostalgic experience, taking heroes, players, and the game back to moments in the game’s history for limited time events

Q. What is the game mode for Overwatch: Classic Patch 1.0?

You’ll play the Quick Play ruleset using the original 21 heroes and the twelve original launch maps. In spirit of the patch 1.0 balance, there will be no hero limits and no role limits as you play for the first few days of the event. After that we will enable the single hero limit rule for the remainder of the event. Heroes will be organized in their four original classes, Offense, Defense, Tanks, and Supports.

Honestly, fuck them. I already paid for Overwatch. Now it's reduced to a "nostalgic experience" event to promote MTX fest Overwatch 2. Let me know when they want to just give my game back with an apology note. Asshats.
 

Griffon

Member
ryan reynolds hd GIF


Edit: thinking for a sec, I actually know why, so that people realize how jank classic was and how much better the current 5v5 has been all along.
 
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I didn't really think I would hate 5 v 5 mode as much as I did. It makes Reinhardt a lot harder to use the way I played and I wasn't interested in changing the way played so I just stopped playing the game.
 

Klosshufvud

Member
Overwatch was the greatest of fun at launch when the balancing wasn't so tryhard and everyone played it as a wacky party-like game with friends. But Blizzard really wanted to make it esports too which made the game bipolar in nature.
 

Interfectum

Member
Overwatch was the greatest of fun at launch when the balancing wasn't so tryhard and everyone played it as a wacky party-like game with friends. But Blizzard really wanted to make it esports too which made the game bipolar in nature.
Yeah if you read that Blizzard book Kotick pushed hard for the Overwatch League to become the next NFL.

He totally fucked Blizzard for a long time, possibly forever.
 
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