Overwatch has made a massive comeback after it dropped the “2” from its name, but doubts remain that it has what it takes to be a top-tier esport.
For a while, gamers loved to state that Overwatch 2 was “dying.” This is a common sentiment heard about games that are not as popular as they once were. And there is no denying that Overwatch 2 had lost players. Over the past 12 months the game had about 35,000 to 45,000 players on average, according to SteamDB.
Far from dying, but definitely a drop from where it used to be. The decision to create a sequel, shelve promised PvE content and keep the 5v5 team comps did cause the hero shooter to drop in popularity – especially when Marvel Rivals came out.
However, Blizzard announced a massive update in February 2026. The game was dropping the “2” and returned to Season 1. The idea was a “return to form.”
Game Director Aaron Keller said: “What we hope this conveys to people is our path forward, which are these really big annual moments that almost feel like expansions.
“Dropping the 2 is our way of conveying to players that Overwatch isn’t something that you’re supposed to move on from. We want to gain players’ confidence. We want them to have trust in the game, in the team behind it, in the company that’s supporting it, so that they can look forward to continuing playing this game that’s always improving for years to come.”
The big update, called The Reign of Talon, included five new heroes, balance changes and promises of more lore and story development over the next year. The revamped game looks prettier and there is even a 6v6 option for those that want it.
When the update dropped Overwatch saw 165,651 players open the game, and it has maintained healthy player counts since. It’s fair to say that Overwatch is back, but that only means Overwatch the game. Overwatch the esport is a different matter.
Failing to take off
The height of the Overwatch esports scene was the Overwatch League, Blizzard’s franchise model that had players rooting for their city and featured vibrant, fun broadcasts. It was one of the scenes that got this author into esports, excited by the passionate fanbase and the insight into players’ personalities and skills all over Reddit and social media.
However, Blizzard made a lot of missteps with the Overwatch League that eventually caused it to shut down. After six seasons, the viewership wasn’t there and teams were not seeing the return on investment that had been promised. Blizzard ended up paying out teams and ending the iconic esports scene entirely.
The Overwatch Championship Series was formed, but it has not been the same since. The fanfare, hype and popularity is gone. The OWCS World Finals in 2025 had a peak viewership of 177,010. Similar to Overwatch 2’s player count, it’s nothing to scoff at but also nothing to really note. 2026 has started slightly more strongly with its new Pre-Season Bootcamp, which had over 211,500 viewers on the back of the massive in-game update.
However, I don’t think Overwatch esports will suddenly achieve huge popularity. Hero shooters don’t make for a very easy-to-follow viewing experience and the prominent players are no longer there. There’s a limit to what fans can latch on to and really care about. It can still be fun to watch if you love Overwatch, but I don’t think it’s going to get the universal love that games like League of Legends and Dota 2 have, which feature iconic teams, veteran players and gameplay that is easier to follow.
The majority of the updates in The Reign of Talon were about the story and lore, indicating that Blizzard’s focus also lies away from the esports scene, while the game’s competitive balance is still somewhat questionable. Perhaps it’s better off as a casual game for now?
