Blizzard says Overwatch matches sometimes turn into 'stomps' because that's, like, just the nature of things
Make no mistake about it, Blizzard is in triage mode on Overwatch 2. The seasonal announcements come-and-go with smooth regularity but beneath the surface this is a game paddling madly away from its original concept, much of which has now been cancelled, towards an uncertain future of mini events and trying to reinvent itself on-the-fly.
Season 6 will be the first big test of the new model and is even grand enough to bring its own subtitle. Overwatch 2: Invasion brings story missions, a new hero, a new mode, and so on, but specific content aside what will matter is whether Blizzard can make this feel like an event or Just Another Season.
Fan unrest about the battle pass model has been an ever-present since launch and Blizzard continues to tinker (in Season 5, for example, unlocking the pass tiers tells a story, and the rewards include more of the season's themed cosmetics). And while Season 5 brings four new modes, Blizzard's focus is on the new 5vs5 Ranked mini-season mode:
«Internally, we're watching your reaction to this mode closely,» reads a new blogpost from Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller. «This is a different type of competition and rating than our standard ranked mode. If this proves popular, it could open the door for other types of competition in our game that are based on teams (like an internal tournament system or mode), or could potentially force us to take a harder look at the way we treat grouping restrictions in our current system».
Keller then goes on to address a perennial topic for any competitive shooter: matches that feel completely one-sided, what players blame for them, and what developers think is actually happening.
«So…. stomps,» writes Keller. «Stomps can happen in all games, and they
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