Is it enough to remember the glory days?

Overwatch 2 is no more, as Blizzard has completely scrapped 2 in favor of a new remake. The game is back to being just Overwatch, and with the name change comes a complete revamp. The season – called Overwatch Season 1: Conquest – focuses on the theme of Talon’s rise to power. Overwatch 2 wasn’t picked up like the original Overwatch, but is a fresh start with Overwatch Season 1 enough to relive the good old days of Overwatch?

Before we get into the Overwatch season 1 changes, let’s first take a look at the timeline of the Overwatch series.

When Overwatch 2 was released, it faced some criticism due to the dev team’s decision to drop the planned PvE mode and in-game cosmetic prices. This was very different from Overwatch 1, making getting skins more accessible if you put in the work and play consistently. For example, I have been an Overwatch player since November 2016. I have managed to collect a large number of legendary skins by playing regularly. Loot boxes could also be purchased back then, but spending real money wasn’t the only way to get your hands on the best cosmetics.

When Overwatch 2 was released, I ended up spending a stupid amount of money to get skins that could have been obtained just by playing the game. Yes, Overwatch 2 was now free to play, but charging players upwards of $50 for skin restrictions on ridiculous itemsespecially considering the previous structure of the game. Of course, you don’t have to spend money. However, for those of us who have been around since the beginning of Overwatch, and those familiar with the money-grabbing design of the free-to-play online games business, it’s hard not to succumb to the temptation to spend your money.

The new rebranding of Overwatch doesn’t change the monetization aspects much, as the game is still free to play. However, changes made to Overwatch 2 during its lifetime have made the game work over time, such as the new Perks system and the arena game mode. It doesn’t feel like a terrible waste of money for the game because of this content, and the new and improved Overwatch seems focused on doing more for the player to at least try and justify some of those skin prices.

The Overwatch Season 1 update brought many changes to the game’s structure, with promises of more to come to solidify the game’s future. Let’s take a look at some of the most notable changes.

The biggest surprise of the Overwatch Season 1 reveal in the Overwatch 2026 Spotlight video was that there will be five new playable heroes as soon as the season drops. The new heroes are:

One thing Overwatch fans have been craving for years is narrative content. With the release of Overwatch Season 1, a new movie called “Reign of Talon” was released. The cinematic stops where we are in the story during Overwatch Season 1. Set 10 years after the Blackwatch Retribution mission, Vendetta – the daughter of the former leader of the Talon – takes down Doomfist and takes over her father’s criminal organization. Doomfist is presumed dead. Vendetta rules over Talon, and it is later confirmed that Widowmaker, Sombra and Reaper are no longer Talon employees.

The importance of the narrative can be felt in the game, too, as the Colosseo and Rialto now offer Talon banners. Overwatch’s story arcs have become an integral part of the game instead of after thinking. Team campaigns are also now available, allowing players to choose a side – Talon or Overwatch – and complete the campaign to earn rewards associated with their team.

Overwatch will now focus on building seasons around the story, with new heroes becoming more common. Loot Boxes also make a return, as they can be obtained easily and often. There are also many changes to some heroes’ abilities. Be sure to check out the latest Overwatch Season 1 notes for more information on all the changes.

So, are these changes really enough to bring back the golden days of the original Overwatch? Honestly, I don’t think so, but it’s as close as it’s going to get. Blizzard managed to catch lightning in a bottle when they released Overwatch. It was hailed as one of the best games of 2016, and there is no doubt that without it, we wouldn’t have other superhero shooters like VALORANT or Marvel Rivals.

That being said, the hero shooter genre has been pretty crowded since 2016. It’s hard for any game to truly stand out from the crowd, even a game like Overwatch, which was the OG. However, I think Overwatch will continue its comeback due to the changes in Season 1. The game has already seen a huge return to its player base. I personally played more Overwatch in the last week than I have in months. Can the game go back to the way it was in 2016? No. Can it remove the controversy of Overwatch 2 and retain the established player base? If it continues as strong as it did in Season 1, then yes, it can.