Overwatchis one of the most successful and highly visible team shooters of all time, though it’s been struggling to hold on to its crown in recent years. In fact, many would argue thatOverwatchhas lost its title as the king of PvP hero shooters in the wake of breakout competitors likeMarvel Rivals, which may prompt Blizzard to copy those games' homework, as it were.
This would be a reasonable path for the IP to take:Marvel Rivalshas turned out to be a bigger hit than many could have imagined, possibly even poaching a significant portion ofOverwatch’s playerbase. There are myriad potential explanations forRivals' success compared toOverwatch, including the unstoppable relevance of the Marvel brand andOverwatch 2’s controversial departures from its predecessor’s formula. Whatever the reason forMarvel Rivals' popularityin the face ofOverwatch’s degradation, it’s clear that the latter needs to bring out the big guns if it wants to stay competitive down the road. But it’s notMarvel RivalsthatOverwatchought to emulate.
Overwatch’s Take On Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Could Be a Boon
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Helped Cyberpunk 2077 Immeasurably
Released in 2022, the first season ofCyberpunk: Edgerunnerscouldn’t have come at a better time.Cyberpunk 2077was definitely on the upswing at that time, having been repaired through innumerable patches and eventually grasping back a bit of good will from players; but its troublesome launch hung over it like a pall, and many gamers were still steering clear of it, left with a bad taste in their mouths—this was beforePhantom Libertyand the 2.0 patchhelpedCyberpunkclaw back its dignity, after all.
ButEdgerunnersoffered something that the patches, however positive, couldn’t: an emotional connection to theCyberpunk 2077world. Taking place in Night City shortly before the events of the game,Edgerunnerswas able to demonstrate the charm, vivacity, and depth of theCyberpunklore, shining a light on the most unique Night City denizens and social conflicts. The story ofCyberpunk 2077is good on its own, but it was overshadowed by its myriad bugs and performance issues, not to mention the overall air of negativity surrounding the product;Edgerunnershad no such drawbacks, and could thus serve as an entertaining and informative piece ofCyberpunkcontent with no strings attached. And, of course, the success of the show drove more players to the game, strengthening the brand as a whole.Overwatchought to pull the same trick.
Season 2 ofCyberpunk: Edgerunnerswas recently announced, sparking anotherspike inCyberpunk 2077players.
An Overwatch Animated Series Is a No-Brainer
Cyberpunk: Edgerunnersmight have helpedCyberpunk 2077’s reputationand popularity, but it’s not like just any video game can benefit from a tie-in show in the same way.Edgerunnersworks as well as it does, not only because it’s well-crafted, but also because its source material is so full of potential. Luckily, these traits are shared byOverwatch.
For a multiplayer shooter,Overwatchis surprisingly dense on the lore and character-writing fronts. Since the first game’s release in 2016, there have been several animated shorts highlighting the personalities and backstories of the series' principal characters, which have aided in making the franchise more emotionally resonant with audiences. Considering this rich cast of characters, and the precedent set byBlizzard’s animated shorts, a more structured television series featuring these characters or simply set in the same world, would be an undeniably tantalizing prospect for many fans, and could even help attract new ones.
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.
