If Overwatch Was a Free-to-Play Like Current Fan-Favorite Valorant, Could It Have Continued Being the Best FPS Shooter?

Published 10/23/2022, 3:00 PM EDT

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It’s been over three weeks since the release of Overwatch 2. The game has received a mixed reaction from the fans, as some are happy to see their favorite hero shooter back in action. Meanwhile, there are piles of complaints about long waiting times in the queue.

But despite the negativities, there is a possibility for Overwatch 2 to become a fan favorite. After all, its predecessor was a huge part of the gaming society, including eSports. But then the question arises of why Overwatch drowned and how this sequel can avoid it.

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Why did everyone forget about Overwatch?

Overwatch was a multiplayer first-person shooter game released in 2016 by Blizzard entertainment. However, many fans also called it a “hero shooter,” as the game has a rooster of characters with unique abilities similar to a superhero.

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But where is all the popularity now if the game was so good? So, this hero shooter lost its fame thanks to the price tag and growing competition. The 2016 FPS by Blizzard was possibly the pioneer of hero shooters, but other game developers were also releasing similar games.

So there was a time when Overwatch had a lot of competition from other hero shooters like Paladins and Valorant. But what was the last nail in the coffin was the price tag of $60. It seems like the standard price for most games, but Paladins and Valorant were free-to-play.

Further, it was optional for Valorant players to spend money if they wanted exclusive in-game cosmetics. So, if this 2016 FPS game was a free game like Valorant and Paladins, it could have survived the fall. Even it could have kept its title of bet FPS and Hero Shooter game.

How can the sequel avoid the same fate as its predator?

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Blizzard has released the much-awaited sequel Overwatch 2. But many might wonder how it can avoid the same fate as its predecessor. So Blizzard has already eliminated a significant problem: the price tag. Overwatch 2 is a freemium game like Valorant.

Now the developers just need to keep introducing updates and exciting elements to the game. Further, they need to eliminate the bugs and resolve fans’ complaints. So, the game already has a fandom that has moved to games like Valorant, but they might return to Overwatch 2 if all the prior mistakes are not repeated and new ones are not created.

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WATCH THIS STORY: Relive the best moments of Overwatch star Alarm!

Do you see Overwatch 2 becoming the fan-favorite hero shooter game in the future? Share your opinions in the comments.

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Written by:

Ripan Majumdar

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Ripan Majumdar is an esports and F1 writer at Essentially Sports. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor's in Science from West Bengal State University, Kolkata. Ripan is a massive Red Bull Racing and Sergio Perez fan.
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Edited by:

Jito Tenson