Request to Blizzard: EoL source code dump?

General Discussion
1

Overwatch is nearing the end of it’s product life cycle, OW1 isn’t exactly long for this world.

When Blizzard finally transitions to OW2 completely, can we have the source code for OW1? It would be amazing to see how well OW’s networking could perform, if it got some TLC. Lord knows it could use some.

2 Likes
4

The answer is no, and here’s why.

  1. Overwatch 2 is just an update to Overwatch 1. Most of the code from OW1 is used in OW2. Many did not even realize that the “new” engine is an UPDATED old engine. Not new.
    Posting this code will lead to the following problems:
  2. Discovery of new vulnerabilities for cheaters. The publication of the CS: GO source code, outdated by several years, immediately helped to find the vulnerability.
  3. Possible use of the code for commercial purposes (why does the company need this?)
  4. Part of the code may generally be prohibited from distribution outside the company due to a license, etc.
6 Likes
5

OW2 is the same bloody game. Ofc they won’t give away the source code.

Not to mention they have made the game 100% online exactly because they don’t want people to pirate it.

6

I think being 100% online has less to do with piracy and more to do with the fact that its a PvP based shooter without any semblance of a single player campaign.

7

Even the practice mode requires connection to the server. It is done on purpose.

8

I imagine they wouldn’t want someone using that code to make another game, fearing another DotA type thing that they can’t profit from. I had even heard that the Warcraft 3 remake had in its terms and EULA that any mods are the property of Blizzard.

9

That’s what I was afraid to hear, but it’s not like asking can make things worse.

It’s so frustrating to watch Blizzard ignore quality minimums for so long, that I just want to shoo them away and fix it myself.

10

Practical considerations aside, they want you to play OW2. Letting people play OW1 drags people away, but more importantly, it drags their friends away.

11

I can’t imagine Blizzard really cares if we actually play it or not, at this point it seems like they just want people to watch the OWL. If they cared they wouldnt have put the OWL first.

12

Even if you lay out the client code, this will not be enough. And no one will upload the server code (and the players themselves will not write it), otherwise it will be possible to raise your own overwatch

13

It also means competition from the community-maintained versions of Overwatch 1, and whatever spinoffs are made to mimic Overwatch 2. That would be disaster trying to compete with free and community-made content. Much like Elder Scrolls games up through Skyrim (and some Fallout games also from the same company). A healthy mod community would be great for us, but a terrible way for a company to make money off their active game, its DLC, or to maintain their “Teen” game rating amongst the plethora of adult-themed content that would quickly release and dominate the news surrounding the game (which also would probably would not be too healthy when trying to prop up their flailing esport).

14

Developers can always go the csgo route by allowing them to create their own maps, models and sounds.
And of course, to develop the workshop if they do not want to give full control over the creation of their servers.

15

True, but the OP was requesting source code, which, going by my reasons along with the reasons you gave earlier, should make it obvious why that will never happen.

16

All Ive ever wanted was for Blizzard to fix the oldest technical issues. I just want to play without dying around corners or teleporting from where I was to where someone killed me on their screen.
I just want the bare minimum of network performance that other developers have set precedent for.

If at this point they don’t care enough to fix it themselves, maybe they don’t care enough to prevent the fans from fixing it for them.

17

Unless it is something Blizzard explicitly would allow (like releasing source code or community mod tools like a map maker), any such modification made to fix game problems, make improvements, or offer a user additional customizability would fall under their definition of a game exploit.

As some example for how much they clamp down on this:

  • They purposely restrict players from being able to play the game on ultra widescreen monitors, despite frequent requests being made for added support going all the way back to 2016, citing their wider FOVs as being an unfair competitive advantage over the standard (16:9) aspect ratio.

  • Besides banning people for using cheat software, they released a statement warning people from using software that provides any unintended competitive advantage, like real-time stat and killfeed tracking and interpretation, and audio-based "mini-maps", including 3rd party gameplay-enhancing tools bundled with hardware made from reputable manufacturers
18

Not unless you’re the chinese government, no.

19

Yeah, let’s ask the multi-million-dollar-company to give away the thing they make money with, because that’s how business works. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

20

Releasing source code doesnt mean everyone is allowed to go compile and maintain/run their own version of the game. Source code comes with licensing that restricts its usage in a variety of ways.

1 Like
21

Let me ask you something. Why would Blizzard do that? Seriously. What in your brain makes you think this is remotely a possibility?

22

Blizzard doesn’t seem to care. Why wouldn’t they? If blizzard cared they would have fixed issues from the 2015 beta years ago but they haven’t.

It’s not an uncommon thing for companies to release source code for projects they’re no longer interested in so that people who are interested in it can maintain it for themselves.