Overwatch 2 PvE Mode: Why Players Disappointed

Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment

[{"selector":"#anim-c218d22f-7ddc-400a-aeb6-ec6a49b8870d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3f6e246-9c31-4c54-af00-da7cd032496f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c8b45a2-ec80-4788-a170-e9f57a75f496","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e5a4541-7b11-4453-b33f-b0ffc072bfca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66975535-ec4b-451a-9e67-eb285ccc68bc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 437.37384%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Overwatch 2 PvE mode experiences a significant decline in player count after two months of release. Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment

[{"selector":"#anim-20e8ae0d-bc5b-4c98-9f0e-a30af9983c21","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.4557%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ada25022-3c8c-44d4-a84a-6082a8a506a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b795ebf-2d4f-4fc6-bbfd-f3b828e4466b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fdd9e917-55e4-49da-905b-4431fc3a1820","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0dda345-2d0c-4b52-9f35-50d8ba36b14d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 437.37384%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] PvE lobbies are currently empty, with only a few players remaining. Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment

[{"selector":"#anim-f54d8b3d-947f-4ab6-ad16-5a9ef912d032","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68b2e083-473c-4b1a-a1d4-bc378ac777c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1de98db0-ae68-4672-b243-366394ff0cb2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a0f11bf6-f75e-48d0-8275-ff39b64c8de3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-201ce456-0bbe-4e19-879d-e85b67ef613e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 437.37384%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Initial excitement about dynamic PvE missions with skill trees replaced by just three basic missions, no guilds, and limited skill progression. Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment

[{"selector":"#anim-63380392-4c2d-48b2-884b-773b1b39877d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.4557%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-259de0c3-f942-441b-bb2c-c9f6c8472540","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df7a8df8-cdf5-4c1a-a48a-9b6003f892fb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-87064640-d3b9-4ea2-a1cf-c678190da4b2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48a5d557-b89c-4485-8ae2-8123700ec190","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 437.37384%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Blizzard's changes to the PvE experience in early 2023 caused disappointment among players. Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment

Long wait

[{"selector":"#anim-819c3c99-ff43-468b-92ba-f3639889ed2a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.4557%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fa17388-5eac-4de7-8ebf-b7fd12d50756","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b73aa3fc-adad-4833-9c1a-a46e2b550ebf","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef7a6b95-d63c-4bf4-bd35-d571aef54078","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e4ef0e8-ca16-49ac-80da-302c1770b032","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 437.37384%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df4f6224-e721-42a6-b2e4-71adc3dd3be9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-164.13795%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8413f78-f424-4a13-866f-a580cd7e1fe4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3831197c-7f13-43a8-88e2-43fe17b3034f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Long wait times, up to 5 minutes, in the current PvE mode. Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment

Strange behavior

[{"selector":"#anim-536bf4dc-d706-41aa-9143-a2ace9ea9829","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.4557%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6fc3ae5-90a8-43be-a6eb-a22d5a108dd8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a21211a-773f-4c86-8d3d-03e830cbe480","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20442373-603f-4175-86f1-1666cad39ae1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5811ecfb-b88d-4056-aca3-97b40b0fcde2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 437.37384%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-479823c6-3660-4511-b824-1f0663f823e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-120.71713%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0374b7f-2107-4c6f-b17f-dfe533d63055","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0608af9e-510c-422b-9aca-b630c603e5a2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] AI teammates exhibit strange behavior, going off the map or using poorly timed Ultimates. Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment

Lack of replay value

[{"selector":"#anim-9e22e3ce-e179-4f90-968d-0ba0e85960b8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.4557%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6d94f76-ce60-43c5-8577-d10b1155c803","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b36a62a-3dc7-4bef-b0c8-0ce773e01d65","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b84814e8-984f-4500-9046-2f5d73806446","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6f08347-8624-4d01-9dc6-b762fd2e85d5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 437.37384%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2335809c-c885-49c6-8cd5-b62dc5337055","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-125.27472%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-469c1c5e-6c9c-40d6-aebf-a27ee17f8ff9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3e7e068-e97f-440c-8713-804760bd572e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Lack of replay value with only three mission options. Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment

Price

[{"selector":"#anim-b6411a62-d5bb-4a8e-b526-f97da94c6be3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.4557%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b48f937-54e0-4571-a5ac-61a8fb2e8cf7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-959442f3-a601-47b0-8dfc-e024e6a45d0c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72a68fb8-552e-4f61-b05e-8208618912f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e98d53a6-a410-4f62-a5fc-88b34190c1f4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 437.37384%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d99c884-5386-4b3e-8cb2-7bf66258f361","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5681a57-07fb-40fb-8dfa-d6ea5ec08545","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] $15 price for three missions possibly discouraging players. Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment

Bring back

[{"selector":"#anim-ae5755f7-6086-427a-9b2a-71c294bf05fb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.4557%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29063491-65f6-44f0-b033-b57dd90b8bbe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b7600f0-f691-4473-bc79-1df521816d2e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f451480-7325-4492-8010-87e5fae5555d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-105a6ec7-6ddb-4815-abc3-f846353c3292","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 437.37384%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a25b2a09-26c6-437c-bbd6-4b9f988c3872","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-126.58228%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9ab6568-1495-460d-b4d7-f6ae7a292f69","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46047865-9e02-4964-bd30-d4e45ff8dbac","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Talk of bringing back the original three missions in a new bundle. Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment