As soon as Overwatch 2 arrives, you may by no means have the ability to play Overwatch 1 once more

In a Reddit AMA on June 22, members of the Overwatch 2 developer workforce supplied some new particulars and added context for the upcoming game, together with a affirmation that the unique Overwatch might be absolutely changed by Overwatch 2 when it launches on October 4.

As a part of a response to a query in regards to the game’s “Early Access” title, director Aaron Keller said that “When OW2 launches on October 4th it will be a replacement for the current live service.”

It was beforehand tough to parse what the ultimate type of this not-quite sequel will appear like, and this move does little to assuage criticism that Overwatch 2 is extra of a glorified update than an entirely unique sequel. A tweet from the official Overwatch account shortly after OW2’s reveal claimed that “Overwatch 1 players and Overwatch 2 players will play alongside on the same maps.” That framing appeared to suggest that the unique game would stick with it in some style and interface with Overwatch 2, however that each would exist in some type.

In 2020, former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan said that any type of “Overwatch Classic” (assume World of Warcraft Classic) with the game returned to an early state could be “very costly from a technical and art perspective” and that “there were a lot of art and UI changes that were not properly ‘versioned’ off but rather overwritten.” It’s unclear if Kaplan is suggesting that the assorted variations of the unique game are misplaced to time and never correctly archived, however even two years in the past, it appeared just like the developer wasn’t desirous about preserving what got here earlier than.

Now Overwatch 2’s intensive modifications to game steadiness and modes will completely overwrite all the things in regards to the unique game, and we at PC Gamer nonetheless aren’t offered on the shift from 6v6 to 5v5. The game performs sooner now, nevertheless it additionally prioritizes fast-twitch FPS expertise over the gamesense and talent focus that allow MMO and MOBA gamers discover a house in earlier iterations of Overwatch.

You can now not buy Overwatch 1 by itself both—Overwatch 2’s “Watchpoint Pack” with premium skins and in-game foreign money is now the one approach to purchase the unique game if you have not already.

This move is smart logistically, with Blizzard investing itself absolutely into the Overwatch 2 reside service and funneling gamers in a single course, however there’s precedent for an enormous reside service game holding its unique type accessible alongside a sequel. The unique Destiny’s console servers are nonetheless up and working, with an end-of-life “Age of Triumph” initiated previous to the launch of Destiny 2. Players can nonetheless return and pattern a decidedly totally different game from the actively supported Destiny 2.