Overwatch 2 director responds to the game’s poor reception on Steam

The director is focusing on the positive after the game's poor performance.

Overwatch 2 director responds to the game’s poor reception on Steam

Image via Blizzard/Scribd

Overwatch 2’s director, Aaron Keller, recently took a proactive stance in response to the game’s less-than-stellar reception on Steam. Fans were highly anticipating the game’s launch on August 10. However, it quickly garnered attention for all the wrong reasons, becoming one of the most negatively reviewed titles on Steam. Keller, however, has acknowledged the current situation of Overwatch 2. He has also reassured players about the promising future that lies ahead for the Overwatch franchise.

Upon its release, Overwatch 2 encountered an unexpected wave of negative user reviews on Steam. This caused its overall rating to plummet to a mere 0.96. An approval rating of just 10%, based on over 92,000 votes, reflected this unprecedented level of discontent. This swift backlash naturally caught the attention of both the gaming community and the development team behind the title.

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Aaron Keller responds to Overwatch 2 being review-bombed

Overwatch 2 director responds to the game’s poor reception on Steam
Image via Eurogamer

Keller, in an open letter posted on Blizzard.com, calmly addressed the phenomenon of review bombing. He acknowledged the frustration and disappointment it can bring to developers. However, he shifted the focus toward the positive aspects of the situation. He highlighted the new players who were immersing themselves in the Overwatch 2 experience for the very first time.

“We also launched on Steam last week, and, although being review-bombed isn’t a fun experience, it’s been great to see lots of new players jump into Overwatch 2 for the first time,” Keller wrote, “Our goal with Overwatch 2 has been to make the game more accessible than ever for more people than ever before.”

The director affirmed, “Many of the reviews on Steam mention the cancellation of the much larger component of PvE that was announced in 2019 as one of their primary reasons for dissatisfaction with the game. I get that. That announcement was about an ambitious project that we ultimately couldn’t deliver. If we can’t turn back the clock, then what can we do? We can keep adding to and improving Overwatch 2. That is how we move forward. This means more maps, heroes, game modes, missions, stories, events, cool cosmetics, and features – an ever-expanding, evolving, and improving game. This is the future of Overwatch. One where we will continually create and innovate on what is making the game great now for the players who are playing now.”

The cancellation of the PvE Hero mode has been a setback for Overwatch 2. However, Keller assured fans that Overwatch 2’s journey is far from over. He unveiled plans for smaller PvE story missions that players can look forward to, including those introduced in the game’s latest chapter, Invasion.

Overwatch 2’s director has demonstrated a resilient response to the game’s challenging launch on Steam. While acknowledging the difficulties brought about by review bombing and the disappointment over canceled features, Aaron Keller’s message is one of optimism, growth, and the unwavering commitment to delivering an evolving and captivating gaming experience for both long-standing fans and those joining the Overwatch world for the first time.

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