Overwatch 2 may test a return to six-player teams

engadget.com:

Blizzard has provided an update that will be music to the ears of many Overwatch 2 fans. The publisher plans to experiment with a range of team compositions beyond the role-locked 5v5 format that the game currently has. That includes a potential revival of six-player teams from the original Overwatch.

«The community has, juuuust once or twice, suggested a test,» Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller wrote in a blog post. «Why not put various forms of 6v6 in the game in order to gauge the results? We agree, and based on your feedback, we’re exploring how we can test different forms of 6v6 in the game to gauge the results.»

Keller is quick to point out that it may take some time before the team runs a 6v6 trial. Overwatch 2 was designed from the ground up for five-player teams, with hero balancing and map designs (and redesigns) taking into account the reduced damage mitigation from having one fewer tank on each side.

There are technical considerations here too, as features such as visual upgrades, more technically demanding hero kits and the ability to see outlines of allies through walls impact Overwatch 2's performance. As such, shifting from 10-player to 12-player lobbies could have a negative impact on performance, particularly on older or less-powerful systems.

"Overwatch is a fast-paced game, and maintaining a game that runs smoothly across all our platforms is important for the player’s experience," Keller wrote. «While a limited-time test could arrive sooner, the team is still investigating exactly how long it would take to permanently increase performance across the game. This would be a large effort that would most likely take at least several seasons to accomplish.»

The possibility of lengthier queue times is also a concern if 6v6 tests are a success and the format sticks around in some way for the long haul. Keller's blog post is a lengthy read, but well worth taking the time to check out if you're interested in how we ended up at