After thirteen seasons,Overwatch 2has announced the return of 6v6 in the form of Season 14 playtests. While Season 13 focuses on refining 5v5 through ongoing experiments, the reintroduction of 6v6 aims to tackle a long-standing community debate. Notably, Team 4 previously stated that it didn’t initially envision a world with 5v5 and 6v6 coexisting. However, it’s now suggesting that, depending on community feedback, 6v6 could become a permanent addition toOverwatch 2.
Though the idea of 6v6 coming back has various pros and cons, the timing appears far from coincidental. With2024 shaping up as a momentous year for hero-shooters, several titles have been making waves in the genre, even if not all have found success. Some of the most notable includeDeadlockandMarvel Rivals, the latter of which is launching just eleven days beforeOverwatch 2’s 6v6 tests.
Overwatch 2 Plans Its 6v6 Playtests for December
Marvel Rivals Officially Launches on December 6
The hero-shooter genre is seeing a surge of new entries recently, with more on the way. WhileStrinovais being called a mixture ofOverwatch 2andValorant,Marvel Rivalsstands out for its iconic comic book characters and nostalgic 6v6 gameplay reminiscent of classicOverwatch.Of course, whilesimilarities betweenMarvel RivalsandOverwatch 2are many, the third-person perspective and various team-up combinations all serve to carefully craft a unique super-powered experience.
Given that Blizzard is planning 6v6 tests for December and January, the timing seems calculated, especially since it’s been over two years since the game’s launch. Ever sinceOverwatch 2’s early intentions were shared, players have been voicing concerns aboutOverwatch’s switch to 5v5, citing issues like the increased pressure on a single tank, especially off-tanks. Though the transformation to 5v5 was an adjustment period that invited new playstyles and strategies, throughout the early seasons ofOverwatch 2, balancing issues have persisted. Over time, this has incentivized tank players to play hard meta, which in past rotations have included controversial heroes like Mauga, Orisa, and D.Va.
Team 4 only officially addressed the debate between 5v5 and 6v6 in July 2024, afterMarvel Rivalsheld its first Closed Alpha in May. While this may be coincidental, it’s also likely that Team 4 wants to provide its player base with something to anticipate within Blizzard’s IP, especially following thesuccess of bothMarvel Rivalsplaytests.
Overwatch 2 Devs Have Already Commented On Marvel Rivals
Intriguingly, in theGroup Up!podcast in August,Overwatch 2Game Director Aaron Keller and Lead Hero Designer Alec Dawsoncommented on the existence ofMarvel Rivals, stating that it would be fascinating to observe how these other games evolve over time. The consensus between the two was that “Competition is good. It’s healthy, and it starts to crystalize what makes [their] game special, too.” As such, it’s clear that Blizzard is aware of “Overwatchclones” andOverwatch-inspired projects, which could mean that the timetable for 6v6 playtesting in the sequel was purposeful.
Although the question was aimed atMarvel Rivals,the developers ofOverwatch 2did not reference NetEase Games' upcoming shooter by name.
Nevertheless, the gaming landscape offers plenty of room formultiple hero-shooter titlesto coexist harmoniously.Overwatch 2’s engine and mechanics are distinctive hallmarks of the game, whileMarvel Rivalsis likely to attract comic book fans and third-person enthusiasts. As both new and established titles shape the genre, it should be interesting to witness how each title assists in helping the other evolve.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
