Make Overwatch 2 separate from Overwatch 1?
Key changes
Overwatch 2 is an entirely new game. It was described as a replacement/reboot. Many things are being removed and changed including: - **One less** player slot per team (5v5) - **One** tank per team - Assault maps **removed** from the Competitive playlist - Tank heroes become **brawlers** - **Competitive Open Queue** mode may be **removed** given that the game will be rebalanced entirely with the solo tank possibly receiving extreme power buffs - Changes to the underlying game engine - Level portraits - Crowd control abilities will be redistributed - Heroes like Doomfist may be changed **entirely**. - A small amount of movement acceleration will be introduced. - **Hero passives** will be introduced. - Each individual player has more carry potential and there is **less of a focus on teamwork**. - UI and HUD - Rank **decay** - **Monetisation** scheme and cosmetics - Gold weapons - Hard disk space required will likely be **increased** as a result of the new maps, modes and higher resolution textures. System requirements may be slightly increased. - Overall the way the game **feels, looks and plays** will be changed entirely. - The **current plan** is for all players to be moved over to the sequel as a **mandatory update**.The current plan is for all players to be moved over to the sequel as a mandatory update. What if each game were kept separate?
Pros:
- For some Overwatch 2’s changes are positives and for others these are negatives. Those who prefer the game as it is now would have the option to continue playing Overwatch as it is today. Some may wish to enjoy each as its own game and go back and forth between the two.
- Allows the original game’s design philosophy to be restored to having teamwork as the number one focus while sequel can fully commit to the more solo play style to appeal to modern gamers. Satisfies both crowds.
- An opportunity for more revenue for Blizzard. They could charge separately for the sequel. This in turn could mean a higher quality product
Cons:
- If sold separately would require a purchase to play PVP and PVE. This may be seen as anti-consumerist.
- Split in the playerbase
- The original game would no longer receive content updates - it would effectively be “frozen”, but server, report, and anti-cheat systems maintenance would be a cost to factor in and would cut into developer resources. Resource investment should scale with popularity.
- Divide in the player base could result in long queue times for either game - most likely the original.
Skins would not carry over.
Notes:
- Long queue times could be offset by having the less populated one or both go free to play (with the exclusion of access to the Damage role in Role Queue to somewhat balance the ratios) and matchmaking restraints could be loosened.
- A possible discount could be offered for owners of the original game. Say, 50% off
- Someone in the comments correctly pointed out that skins could still carry over as they would just need to pull from the original’s database. This would however probably be less profitable for Blizzard as well as reduce the novelty factor of it all.
- Some of the comments have remarked that the original game would die. It may be argued that a natural death of the game due to lack of interest is preferable to a forced one
- Successful games like World of Warcraft retail and classic illustrate the possibility of such separation
- Whilst overwatch was marketed with the understanding that it would be a constantly evolving live service game it could be argued that the changes intended are so drastic that it no longer bears any significant resemblance to the game that was purchased originally, and that a mandatory update is anti-consumer-friendly. Whether or not it is more or less consumer friendly than simply selling a separate game is open to debate.
