Blizzard Reveals Plans For The Possible Return of 6v6 in Overwatch 2

Since its release, Overwatch 2 has faced significant turbulence, with both casual and pro players expressing frustration over various issues and balance decisions. The tank meta has been particularly problematic, and both the Support and Damage roles have been either wildly inconsistent or excessively overpowered.

Given these concerns, many players have been advocating for a return to the 6v6 format from the original Overwatch, believing it could address some of the current game's problems. While many thought this idea was merely wishful thinking and that Blizzard would never revert to the old format, it appears that Blizzard has now announced plans to potentially bring back 6v6 in Overwatch 2.

Blizzard Agrees to Test Out the Return of 6v6 in Overwatch 2

The debate between the original 6v6 format of Overwatch 1 and the current 5v5 format in Overwatch 2 has been complex and nuanced since the latter's release. Some fans believe that reverting to 6v6 could address many issues with the current game, while others argue that it might exacerbate existing balance problems. There are also views that 6v6 is merely nostalgia-driven and won't resolve current issues, with many opinions falling somewhere in between these extremes.

5V5 VS 6V6 HAS OFFICALLY BEGUN https://t.co/2bme4vsdfb

— Flats (@Flats_OW) July 25, 2024

In response to this debate, Blizzard's recent Director's Take on the subject reflects a cautious approach. Their statement summarizes that Blizzard recognizes the valid arguments for reinstating 6v6, but it's not as simple as just adding it back into Overwatch 2. There are numerous factors to consider, such as hero balancing, queue times, the experience of players who started with Overwatch 2, and performance concerns from when 6v6 was previously used.

To address these concerns, Blizzard plans to test different core team compositions in Overwatch 2 through a series of events. They stated, "We’re looking at running a series of events to try out different core team composition formats in Overwatch 2" and added, "We’re exploring how we can test different forms of 6v6 in the game to gauge the results. This is taking some time, however, for reasons that may not be readily apparent."

It seems that we will see limited forms of 6v6 sometime soon (hopefully), potentially through quick-play options, limited-time game modes, or dedicated modes running for weeks. This approach is a cautious one, allowing Blizzard to evaluate how 6v6 performs in modern Overwatch 2, whether as a step toward refining the new formula or simply as a refreshing change from the current format.