BlizzCon is always an exciting event for Blizzard fans, as it delivers the latest news on the company’s upcoming video game projects. This year, one of the most anticipated games was easily Overwatch 2, the sequel to the critically-acclaimed Overwatch. Unfortunately for fans of Blizzard’s hero-shooter, those that tuned in to the Overwatch festivities at BlizzCon 2021 likely came away a bit disappointed.
Blizzard has dropped the ball at BlizzCon events in the past, perhaps most infamously with the Diablo Immortal reveal, but still, it’s safe to say that many were not prepared for the general lack of major Overwatch news at the event. After all, besides Diablo 4, Overwatch 2 is one of the only new games that has actually been announced by Blizzard. And with the game having a major presence at BlizzCon 2019, many assumed that it would have a similar impact at BlizzCon 2021. “Leaks” and rumors being spread online only served to hype up the game’s BlizzCon presence further, and ultimately, it did not live up to expectations.
Here is how Blizzard dropped the ball with Overwatch at BlizzCon 2021.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment from BlizzCon 2021 for Overwatch fans was how the game had virtually no representation during the keynote address. Some fans felt misled, as Blizzard used some new D.Va artwork to hype its BlizzCon festivities, and while Overwatch 2 did have a deep dive presentation, its absence from the keynote was still confusing. Anyone that watched the BlizzCon 2021 keynote in a livestream would have seen a chat absolutely flooded with people demanding Overwatch 2 news, asking to see Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan, and begging Blizzard to skip ahead to the Overwatch stuff.
It’s clear that many Overwatch fans tuned in to this presentation for the express purpose of seeing Overwatch 2. Blizzard showed all of its already-announced games, along with the new Blizzard Arcade Collection, but it didn’t show Overwatch 2 during the keynote at all. When this became obvious, the chat turned decidedly more toxic, though it also was full of people expressing their disbelief that Blizzard didn’t showcase one of its biggest games during its keynote presentation.
Unfortunately, this set the tone for a generally disappointing BlizzCon 2021 for Overwatch fans.
Shortly after the keynote, Blizzard offered a deeper dive into Overwatch 2. It revealed new Overwatch 2 maps like Rome and New York, offered some new details on how Hero Missions will work, and explained some of the new PvE enemy types that players will encounter in said missions. But what many fans were hoping to see was a new hero for the game’s roster, as has become tradition at BlizzCon events, but they were left disappointed.
No new Overwatch hero has been added to the game since Echo made her debut in 2020, and fans didn’t even get an update on the previously-revealed hero, Sojourn. With it being so long since fans have seen a new Overwatch hero, BlizzCon 2021 was the opportunity to make a big splash with a new character reveal, but unfortunately, it came and went with no new heroes.
While there was new Overwatch 2 footage shown at BlizzCon 2021, there wasn’t a proper trailer for the game. Perhaps this is why it was absent from the keynote address, but considering how well-received Blizzard’s Overwatch trailers and animated shorts have been, it’s puzzling that a new one wasn’t at BlizzCon 2021. After all, the Overwatch 2 trailer from BlizzCon 2019 was hugely popular with fans, revealing the sequel with an emotionally-impactful trailer that revealed new characters, new gameplay features, and also set the stage for the game’s story.
All eyes are on Overwatch 2, but in the meantime, the original Overwatch game still exists and receives support from Blizzard. With the Overwatch 2 release date not until 2022 at the earliest, one would think there would be an effort to keep fans engaged with the first game. Unfortunately, nothing for the original Overwatch game was announced at BlizzCon 2021, so it seems as though fans of the game will just have to make due with the usual seasonal events and all of the existing content in the game.
While many Overwatch fans were letdown with the game’s presence at BlizzCon 2021, there are a number of factors that could have led to its underwhelming showing. Chief among these is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as it’s no secret that it has had a profound impact on video game development. There once was a time when people believed that the Overwatch 2 release date would be within the next few months, after all.
However, there is hope that Overwatch 2 news will start ramping up. Jeff Kaplan has indicated that Overwatch 2 updates will be more frequent now that BlizzCon 2021 is over. So it seems as though fans of the game should have plenty to look forward to between now and when Overwatch 2 finally launches.
Overwatch 2 is in development for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
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