Overwatch 2 Game Director Addresses Review Bombing Amid Steam Debut Controversy

Overwatch 2, the Blizzard shooter that recently made its debut on Steam, has been grappling with review bombing from disgruntled fans. Despite this tumultuous reception, Aaron Keller, the game's director, has offered a measured response to the situation in a recent blog post. While facing a barrage of negative reviews on the platform, Overwatch 2 remains steadfast in its optimism for the road ahead.

Marking a significant milestone, Overwatch 2 launched Season 6: Invasion, a comprehensive update that introduced permanent PvE missions, a new hero, game mode, maps, and the game's entrance onto Steam. Unfortunately, this momentous occasion was marred by a rapid influx of negative reviews, causing Overwatch 2's rating to plummet overnight on the platform.

Aaron Keller, Overwatch 2's game director, has now broken his silence about the situation in an official statement. Acknowledging the challenges posed by review bombing, Keller expressed his appreciation for the influx of new players delving into Overwatch 2. Addressing the criticisms that emerged on Steam, he attributed much of the backlash to the scaling back of the game's PvE content. While acknowledging the legitimacy of these concerns regarding unmet promises, Keller adopted an optimistic stance regarding the game's future in both PvP and PvE aspects.

Despite the less-than-favorable reviews Overwatch 2 has garnered on Steam, its player community remains notably active. Data from activeplayer.io indicates consistent growth in player engagement from its launch in October to February 2023. Although activity has slightly diminished in subsequent months, the game's player base has largely remained stable since then. Intriguingly, Overwatch 2 boasts a higher player count than its predecessor Overwatch 1, possibly owing to its enhanced accessibility and transition to a free-to-play model.

However, not all players are mollified by Keller's words, perceiving them as lacking substance and genuine remorse. Many contend that without concrete details, the apology falls flat. Given the circumstances, it appears that Overwatch 2 faces an uphill battle in reestablishing trust with these disenchanted players.

Nonetheless, Keller's assertion that Overwatch 2 is currently in its "best state ever" holds true to a certain extent. The response to Overwatch 2: Invasion has been predominantly positive, as the core player base relishes the addition of PvE missions, alongside the new PvP elements. Season 6 marked the official conclusion of Overwatch 2's Early Access phase, generating excitement among players eager to see what lies ahead. Despite the mixed reviews on Steam, the present moment presents an opportune time for newcomers to explore Overwatch 2's offerings.