Overwatch 2 has a lot of expectations to live up to, given the fact that it’s following up on one of the most successful game releases in recent years, but Blizzard certainly seem confident that it’ll be able to do that. The game is, of course, making pretty significant addition with an entire PvE component– but this is still Overwatch, and PvP is going to be the beating heart of the experience. And according to Blizzard veteran Aaron Keller, who’s taken over as the project’s director following the departure of Jeff Kaplan, says that the development team is very much focused on that aspect of the experience.
In a recent interview with GameSpot, Keller said that though Blizzard are, of course, focusing on the game’s new PvE missions, they’re just as focused (if not more) on the competitive multiplayer side of things, and that as the person in charge of the game’s development, he in particular wants to make PvP in Overwatch 2 “as compelling as we possibly can.”
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about what the PvE side of the game is with our hero missions and our campaign and the progression system that drives all of it,” Keller said. “But the other side of the game is just as important, if not more important, and that’s the PvP side of the game. We have 60 million players that love that side of the game and are attached to that side of the game. We know, going forward, we have to make the next best version of a team-based shooter. So to me, yes there is this PvE side of Overwatch 2 but I am very focused on the PvP side of the game and I want to make that as compelling as we possibly can.”
Overwatch 2 is currently in development for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC, and though PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions haven’t been announced, it’s unlikely that the game won’t simultaneously launch on them as well. There’s currently no release date for the shooter (though it’s definitely not releasing this year), but former director Jeff Kaplan said that Blizzard will take its time with it to ensure that it’s “a worthy successor to the first game.”