Is Blizzard Teasing An Overwatch ‘Classic’?

Overwatch 2 has been in such a rough spot as of late that it’s impossible to not be nostalgic for the original game’s heyday. The sequel hasn’t panned out the way Blizzard promised after it reportedly canceled the story campaign that was the whole point of a sequel. So it’s easy to look at all the changes Overwatch 2 has implemented and wish we could just go back to the original game. Well, it looks like Blizzard might be teasing something that will poke at the yearning veteran fans are feeling, as a rebrand of its socials has fans wondering if something like a “Classic” Overwatch might be in the works.

It all started today, November 8, when the Overwatch social channels were updated with images spotlighting poster girl Tracer in her original game design, rather than the updated look she dons in the sequel. This was accompanied by a series of posts highlighting different events in the last eight years since Overwatch launched in 2016, as well as a new trailer set to premiere on Monday, November 11, at noon Eastern. The trailer itself includes the old school Tracer art as the thumbnail, but is otherwise pretty nondescript.

It’s unclear if this might be a proper Overwatch Classic similar to the World of Warcraft Classic Blizzard released in 2019 that brought the MMORPG back to basics or if this is in reference to the previously announced 6v6 test that will allow players to engage in 12-player matches like they did before Overwatch 2’s release. If it’s the latter, it seems a little soon considering those tests aren’t set to begin until Season 14, which begins in December. But whatever’s going on, this mystery trailer seems to be about something old becoming new again.

Will reverting back to 6v6 put Overwatch 2 in fans’ good graces again? Part of me wonders if the stink has just gotten too potent for some people to ever come back and stay for an extended period of time. But I’ll take anything that makes the game feel fresh again instead of a giant bummer.