Overwatch 2 may revisit larger team sizes, a topic of great debate among fans. The game initially considered 7v7 team compositions, but feedback deemed it too chaotic, leading to the standard 6v6 format in the original Overwatch. Now, developers are exploring the return of 6v6 matches and possibly testing 7v7 in the future.
As discussions continue, the community is split on the prospect of these larger matches, intrigued by the potential changes they could bring to the gameplay experience.
Highlights
- Overwatch almost had teams of 7 players, but feedback deemed it too chaotic.
- Overwatch 2 is considering testing 6v6 matches and potentially revisiting 7v7 in the future.
- Fans are divided on the idea of 7v7 matches in Overwatch 2, but are intrigued by the possibilities.
The original Overwatch almost had teams of seven players facing off against one another, rather than five or six. Though it was deemed too chaotic at the time, Overwatch could have had 7v7 as its default team composition – and revisiting these larger matches again is not entirely off the table.
Recently, Overwatch 2 content creators SVB and Flats spoke with game director Aaron Keller and lead hero designer Alec Dawson for the Group Up! podcast. Discussion on 6v6 was a major topic during the chat, as Keller had recently confirmed Overwatch 2 is planning to test the potential return of six-player teams in the sequel shooter.
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However, it seems the original Overwatch almost had even larger teams than it already did. During the interview, Keller revealed that early Overwatch testing fielded teams of seven against one another, rather than the six it launched with. While the feedback they got at the time said “you felt like you were being attacked from everywhere at the same time,” leading to matches that felt too chaotic, Keller also said “the right decisions could change over time. So, like, hey, maybe that’s something you revisit, right?” implying Overwatch 2 is not against potentially testing out 7v7 again sometime in the future.
Overwatch Almost Had 7v7
The size of teams in Overwatch 2 has been a hot topic recently. One of the big differences between Overwatch and Overwatch 2 was the elimination of the second tank hero spot on teams, moving the game from 6v6 to 5v5. This put a great deal of pressure on tanks in Overwatch 2, and made it hard to balance them without making the heroes overpowered or easily-ignored. Keller recently addressed this discrepancy, and revealed that Overwatch 2 is planning various game tests in the future, some of which could involve the return of 6v6 in some form.Close
While excited about the potential return of 6v6 in Overwatch 2, fans are torn about the idea of 7v7. While such a huge match would guarantee some undoubtedly intense matches, and would dilute the responsibilities of individual players more across a single team, few can deny 14 heroes in a single game would be hectic. Either way, whether they are intrigued or horrified at the prospect, most fans would be interested in seeing how a 7v7 game would play in Overwatch 2.
“The right decisions could change over time. So, like, hey, maybe [7v7 in Overwatch 2 is] something you revisit, right?”
The arguments for and against changing the 5v5 format are not likely to stop any time soon, but at the very least, it is good to see Overwatch 2 taking risks by exploring its options in response to the outpouring of player feedback. Fans can look forward to all sorts of new Overwatch 2 experiments once Season 12 kicks off on August 20.
Overwatch
Overwatch is an online first-person shooter in which multiple players form teams and meet different objectives, depending on the game mode. The game”s huge roster of heroes all have different abilities and playstyles, though success depends heavily on teamwork between players. The game has been listed as one of the greatest of all time and has one of the largest esports scenes in the world.
First-Person Shooter
Systems
OpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Rating:
90/100
Critics Recommend:
96%
Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch
, Xbox One
, PC
, PS4
Released
May 24, 2016
Developer(s)
Blizzard
Publisher(s)
Blizzard
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Engine
Proprietary
ESRB
T for Teen: Blood, Use of Tobacco, Violence (online interactions not rated)Expand
