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Overwatch 2 announces 'groundbreaking' PvP changes after Marvel Rivals surges to success

Overwatch 2's new season 14 is here, but its biggest additions arguably arrive today with the return of 6v6 and the Avatar anime crossover skin range that fans have been waiting for

[Overwatch 2 characters]

Overwatch 2 has replaced the original, but not in our hearts

Blizzard's Overwatch 2 has perhaps stuttered since launch. The first game, which launched in 2016, swept aside multiplayer games at the time by offering a frantic, strategic and colourful shooter that essentially created the 'Hero Shooter' genre.

And, while Overwatch 2 does occasionally hit those heights, it hasn't yet recovered that same magic. Still, Blizzard isn't giving up on the game, and a new blog post confirms it's looking to reveal what it describes as "groundbreaking PvP gameplay changes", likely to counter the threat posed by Marvel Rivals.

With Overwatch 2 flirting with Overwatch 1-like 'Classic Modes', could this be the shakeup the game needs? Here's all we know.

Overwatch 2 Spotlight Revealed

[Overwatch 2 Hazard]

Hazard is the most recent Overwatch 2 hero(Image: Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.)

In the blog post on Blizzard's site, the development team says: "In 2025, Overwatch 2 is going to be packed with groundbreaking changes to the PvP experience that will be unlike anything youve seen before, but its going to take more than a blog or a developer update to let you know what we have coming this year.

"So, on Wednesday, February 12, tune into our YouTube and Twitch channels for a new livestream event, Overwatch 2 Spotlight!"

According to the team, the showcase will reveal new heroes, maps, and more, while content creators will be able to go hands-on ahead of time.

Comments on the article have suggested a return to 6v6 (a controversial change from the first game), and the long-awaited arrival of hero bans.

[Marvel Rivals screenshot]

Marvel Rivals has attracted a lot of Overwatch players(Image: NetEase Games)

It comes at an ideal time, too. TheGamer reports that Overwatch 2 has lost almost 40% of its players on Steam in the last couple of months, likely owing to Marvel Rivals arriving on December 5.

It's worth remembering that Overwatch, as a Blizzard title, maintains a large presence on Battle.net which means many players won't use Steam, but it's still a sizeable shift of players.

Still, competition is good for everyone, so here's hoping Blizzard can awaken its sleeping giant.

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