Overwatch 2 Season 15 is proving to be a significant turning point for the game, which was previously dubbed the worst user-reviewed title on Steam. Since its debut in 2016, and the subsequent launch of Overwatch 2 in 2023, the game has faced numerous challenges. In August 2023, Overwatch 2 hit rock bottom on Steam, primarily due to backlash against its monetization model. Blizzard's decision to transition the premium original Overwatch into a free-to-play sequel in 2022, leaving the original unplayable, drew heavy criticism. Further controversies, such as the cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE Hero mode, only added to the negative sentiment, which many players felt was the core justification for the sequel.

Despite a lingering 'mostly negative' overall user review rating on Steam, recent reviews have shifted to 'mixed,' with 43% of the 5,325 reviews in the last 30 days being positive. This shift is largely attributed to the changes introduced in Season 15. The season brought a host of dramatic updates to the game's core mechanics, including the introduction of hero perks and the return of loot boxes. These changes, along with the promise of new content on the roadmap, have started to sway player sentiment.

Overwatch 2 Season 15 Screenshots

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Recent positive reviews reflect this improved sentiment. One user remarked, "They just released Overwatch 2. The recent update is what the game should always have been before corporate greed got in the way." Another praised the game, stating, "For once, I must come to Overwatch's defense and say they really have stepped up their game. Going back to what worked in Overwatch 1 while introducing new and fun mechanics to the game. A certain game made them LOCK IN and I couldn't be happier. Now we just gotta wait for next season with an actual cooler battlepass."

This positive feedback is partly influenced by the competitive pressure from Marvel Rivals, a similar hero shooter by NetEase that has seen 40 million downloads since its launch in December. In an interview with GamesRadar, Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller discussed the new competitive landscape. He acknowledged the similarity between the two games but viewed the situation as "exciting" and "really great" to see Marvel Rivals take Overwatch's established ideas in a "different direction."

Keller admitted that Marvel Rivals' success has spurred a shift in Blizzard's approach to Overwatch 2, stating, "this is no longer about playing it safe." Despite these changes, it's premature to claim Overwatch is fully "back." The game's Steam reviews continue to fluctuate, indicating the challenge in improving beyond a 'mixed' rating. Nevertheless, Season 15 has led to a notable increase in player numbers on Steam, with peak concurrent players nearly doubling to 60,000. It's important to note that Overwatch 2 is also available on Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox, though player numbers for these platforms are not publicly disclosed.

For comparison, Marvel Rivals recently achieved a peak of 305,816 concurrent players on Steam over the last 24 hours following its mid-season update.